Agenda item

The Chair left the Committee at 18:15 due to his declaration of interest on the item and Councillor Hill acted as Chair on this item.

The Senior Licensing Officer presented the report and elaborated thereon. It was reported that the Committee formally review Car Boot Sale frequency of events and time stipulation between events (condition 1 of existing policy).

The Senior Licensing Officer advised that Northampton Borough Council, as holder of the market franchise, requires all car boot sales and similar events held within 6? miles of Northampton Market Square to be registered with the Council and operate under a permit issued by the Council.

Permits are granted for a period not exceeding 12 months and will expire on

31^st December each year. They will only be issued to charities or non-profit making philanthropic bodies. Traders are not allowed to trade at these events.

It was reported thatIn August of last year the Licensing Dept received an initial request from a representative of Duston Mill Charity Car Boot Sale to remove the requirement to have a minimum of 14 days between each car boot sale and remove the maximum of 12 events per year.

Currently, condition 1 of the policy stipulates that events are limited to 12 per year and there must be at least 14 days between them. The current policy is attached at Appendix B

It was advised that the most relevant reason affecting licence holders put forward to change the current policy is:

That the regular appearance of the German Market is in direct Breach of the Councils’ Car Boot policy as detailed in appendix A.

The representative lists further reasons and benefits specific to Duston Mill that the removal of the condition would bring in the letter of 3^rd August 2015

The Senior Licensing Officer stated that in recent years there has been an increasing concern voiced by other car boot sale licence holders is the number of events that have to be postponed or become a washout due to inclement weather. Often they would like to rearrange for the following day or weekend but at present this is not possible under the existing policy.

The Senior Licensing Officer also advised that if the Committee change the number of permitted events per year from 12 to 14 the notice required will have also to be amended from 14 to 5 days.

Mr Robert Prentice addressed the Committee. He urged the Committee to alter condition 1 of existing policy and allow Car boot to take place on a weekly basis. He asked the committee to remove the restriction on 12 events per year and advised the increase number of event will increase the amount of money donated to charities and philanthropic bodies.

In response to questions from the Committee Mr Prentice advised that 75% of the proceeds go to charity and philanthropic causes.

The Committee expressed their concern that the charities listed in the report were not all local charities.

Mr Prentice advised that the 25% not donated to Charites and philanthropic causes are to cover costs such as land hire and that all litter is cleared after the event.

Councillor Malpas proposed the decision be deferred and a working party put together to review car boot policy and bring in an up to date policy fit for purpose to be ratified by full Council.

Upon a vote the motion fell.

The Chair referred the committee to point 5 on P51 of the report and the options available to them. The Senior Licensing Officer advised point 5.3 is the best option.

RESOLVED

The Committee AGREED to amend the number of car boot sales per year from 12 to 14.

The Committee AGREED to amend condition 2 of the car boot sales policy that the Council will be notified 5 days in advance when an event is to take place rather than 14.

The Committee AGREED the notice period for rearrangement of car boot sale events is at Officers discretion.

The Committee AGREED that car boot sales would be held on weekend and bank holidays only.