Agenda item

1.

Title of Item/Report

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council Consent Street Trading Policy Review 2026

2.

Record of the Decision

Consideration was given to a report on Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council Consent Street Trading Policy Review 2026.

The whole Borough had been designated as a consent area for the purposes of street trading. The Consent Street Trading (CST) policy details how the regime was managed. The policy document had been reviewed following a valid petition, a public consultation and comments received from the general licensing committee.

The CST regime had been in place since 1 March 2024. Over 60 consents had been considered and granted across Stockton-on-Tees since the beginning of the scheme.

The CST policy guided the Council when it considered applications for street trading consents. It also served to inform applicants of the criteria against which applications would be considered as well as setting out the Councils framework and approach for the management of street trading in the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees.

A petition asking for certain events to be excluded from the regime was received and duly considered at full council on 19th November 2026. It was moved by Councillor Norma Stephenson, seconded by Councillor Naill Innes that the petition be referred to the General Licensing Committee for further consideration.

The CST policy was subsequently reviewed and included several changes in response to the valid petition, operational procedures and comments received from General Licensing Committee including recommendations.

As part of this review, a public consultation was also undertaken to help inform the changes. The responses received to the public consultation were available to Members.

The review also considered the design principals:

•         Put communities at the heart of everything we do - sensitive to the needs of residents, provides diversity and consumer choice.

•         Has a ‘place-based’ approach - compliments regeneration and business growth.

•         Has efficient processes and be digital by design - process reviews and feedback provide efficiencies.

•         Uses data and intelligence to inform our decision - consultation drives the policy framework.

The matter was referred to the General Licensing Committee on the 24th March 2026. The committee agreed unanimously on the revised CST policy. The simplification of the CST process was acknowledged along with a new fairer criterion for commercial, charity and hobbyists trading at events within the borough.

RESOLVED that:-

1. The report be noted.

RECOMMENDED to Council that:-

2. The proposed consent street trading policy document be agreed.

3.

Reasons for the Decision

The Local Authorities (Functions and Responsibilities) (England) Regulations 2000, Schedule 1 lists licensing functions under the Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act such as Consent Street Trading as a non-executive function, as such the full Council has the final decision-making powers in respect of the CST policy.

4.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None

5.

Declared (Cabinet Member) Conflicts of Interest

None

6.

Details of any Dispensations

None

7.

Date and Time by which Call In must be executed

Not applicable. Cabinet resolution 1 for noting only and recommendation 2 is a Council decision.