Agenda and minutes

The evacuation procedure was noted.

In the interests of transparency, Councillor Lynn Hall informed the committee that she serves as a friend of Ropner Park.

In the interests of transparency Councillor Mrs Ann McCoy informed the committee that she was member of Billingham town council.

In the interests of transparency Councillor Mick Moore informed the committee that he was member of Thornaby town council.

In the interests of transparency Councillor Jim Beall informed the committee he had chaired charitable organisations during certain events.

To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 27 January 2026.

The Minutes of the previous meeting held on Tuesday 27th January 2026 were agreed as a true record.

The Committee received an overview of a recent review of the Borough’s Consent Street Trading Policy which would be applied to the entire Borough, following the receipt of a recent petition which had triggered a full Council debate on 25 November 2025 as the petition had exceeded the 1,000-signature threshold set out in paragraph 5 of the Scheme for referral to a meeting of full Council and was then referred to the General Licensing Committee for further consideration.

Members were to consider the petition and the review of the Borough’s Consent Street Trading Policy, comment on the proposed policy changes, and determine whether to recommend exempting certain events from the regime or retain oversight through revised policy wording.

The Committee considered the current regime whereby event organisers would require individual traders to submit applications, and discussion was had around the introduction of a temporary event individual consent, which would allow traders to apply directly for a fixed site for up to three consecutive days. However, the Committee expressed a clear preference for a revised approach in which event organisers submit applications to the licensing team, thereby retaining oversight and ensuring effective coordination.

Members welcomed the simplification of the processes and acknowledged that the consultations undertaken had been valuable in helping officers gain a clearer understanding of traders’ requirements. The policy previously included five categories; however, this had been reduced to three categories, thereby simplifying the process.

Members unanimously supported the amended recommendation to Council to retain oversight of events by making a recommendation to council to add proposed policy wording which would define commercial, charity and hobby trading at events.

RESOLVED that:

1.    members comments be received.

2.    that the report be noted.

3.    the Committee agree to retain oversight of events by making a recommendation to council to add proposed policy wording which defines commercial, charity and hobby trading at events as detailed in Appendix 2.