Agenda item

Application for Street Trading Consent.

The Licensing Team Leader presented the report, which related to an application for street trading consent to sell hot drinks, cakes, pastries and biscuits from a van on the pavement adjacent to Imperial Gardens.

Cllr. Wheeler asked when the railings would likely be installed. The Licensing Team Leader responded that this work was due to commence this year.

The applicant (Mr Daniel Corticeiro) thanked members for considering the application and responded to the objections. The van would increase access to artisanal coffee in the town and enhance the area. He acknowledged that there might be a small queue at the entrance of the park and possibly an issue with the railings but would take these into consideration. He did not intend to disrupt any local traders or events, and rejected the notion of possible market saturation in the area. He also suggested that he would be happy to accept a shorter license than 12 months, in line with the council’s Covid recovery plan.

Cllr. Flynn asked the applicant about the orientation of the van. The applicant responded that he intended to have it pointing north, so any queues would take up no more than half of the pavement, but that he would be happy to reposition it if necessary.

Cllr. Seacome asked whether waste bins would be provided. The applicant responded that there would be a 30 litre bin next to the van.

Cllr. Willingham suggested that the plan seemed viable. Competition with other premises would be negligible and it would not cause a public nuisance or any safety issues. He was sure that there would be conditions on how the vehicle arrived from the public highway, as on similar sites. The appearance of the unit was appealing and the environmental credentials, including waste disposal, seemed solid.

Cllr. Flynn agreed that it would be an attractive addition, but was concerned about its proximity to the entrance of the park, and possible issues that may arise when the railings were installed.

Cllr. Willingham suggested that if the committee was minded to approve the application, they could apply conditions requiring the van to cease operation during large events organised by Marketing Cheltenham, and requiring it to be parallel to the pavement.

Cllr. Seacome asked the applicant from which part of the vehicle the coffee was served. The applicant responded that this was done from the back of the vehicle. Cllr. Seacome suggested that any queue should form along the railings so it did not block the pavement.

Cllr. Wheeler suggested that as there were no street traders currently on the site, the application would not crowd the area.

Cllr. Seacome asked if there were any reason why the van could not be parked closer to the Queens Hotel, which would avoid blocking off a bench. The Licensing Team Leader responded that although the application needed to be considered on the basis of the information provided, neither 131 nor the Queens Hotel had objected so it would not materially change the application too much. The applicant responded that he would be happy to move closer to the hotel if necessary.

The Chair moved to a vote on the application, on the conditions that it move slightly towards the Queens Hotel, that the serving hatch face the hotel, and that trading consent might be suspended for the installation of the railings.

The Legal Officer conducted the vote.

For: 4

Against: 0

Abstain: 0