Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member Housing and Safety

The Cabinet Member Housing and Safety introduced the draft policy for approval by Council.  The draft policy had been approved by Cabinet on the 17 April 2012 for the purposes of consultation and again on the 15 January 2013 following consultation feedback and subsequent amendments.  The policy would assist applicants and the council in the decision making process and aimed to promote a street scene which would enhance the town. 

The Cabinet Member Housing and Safety gave the following response to member questions;

• He had not considered the impact of balloons tied to A Board to those that were partially sighted or blind but would raise this issue with officers.
• Once licensed enforcement of the policy became much easier. 
• The Licensing and Community Protection Team would be dealing with enforcement of this policy, which consisted of six officers.

Upon a vote it was unanimously

RESOLVED that;

1.      The consultee comments submitted be noted and;

2.      The amended draft policy be adopted, to take effect on the 1st of April 2013.

Report of the Cabinet Member Housing and Safety

RESOLVED

To recommend to Council to:

1. note the consultee comments submitted
2. adopt the amended draft policy to take effect on the 1^st of April 2013

The Cabinet Member Housing and Safety, introduced the report which outlined the feedback from the consultation on the draft policy on measures to control street scene activities in Cheltenham, approved by Cabinet in April 2012. It also incorporated policy amendments.

He emphasised that this was a non statutory policy and encompassed all activities, such as street trading and A-boards which had an impact on the street scene in the town. He wished to thank officers for their hard work in drafting the policy.

When asked how many A boards there were currently in the town, the Cabinet Member Housing and Safety replied that a survey undertaken 2 years ago accounted for 200 A-boards in the town. Only a small proportion of these were actually licensed.

Members recognised that A boards was a difficult issue. They acknowledged that there were many small businesses which were out of site in the town. The policy aimed to tackle those unnecessary A boards but would permit A boards where it was sensible and safe to do so.

The Leader of the Council recognised that the policy was an attempt to achieve in a fair way the balance of making the town a good place to do business and a good place to be.

RESOLVED

To recommend to Council to:

1. note the consultee comments submitted
2. adopt the amended draft policy to take effect on the 1^st of April 2013