Agenda and minutes

The apologies of Councillor A Lion were noted as indicated above, it was further advised that Councillor R Morgan had kindly agreed to substitute for him.

There were no declarations of interest made pursuant to the Member’s Code of Conduct.

The Sub-Committee noted the agreed procedure for the conduct of business and the terms of reference.

(Director of Neighbourhoods) To consider the attached report and appendices.

The three Councillors that presided over this item were Councillors A Boyce, K Chana and R Morgan.

The Chairman welcomed the participants and requested that they introduce themselves. In attendance on behalf of the application were the applicant Mr B Melton, the owner of Mins Tea Hut and Mr P Morris, a colleague of Mr Melton’s who was acting as the principal advocate for the application. It was noted that there were a number of persons present who were supporting the application a number had made representations and spoke later in the meeting. In attendance objecting to the application were Mr P Thompson, acting on behalf of Epping Conservators and Ms S Rigley, Land Agency and Planning Officer, City of London Corporation.

The Chairman then introduced the Members and officers present and outlined the procedure that would be followed for the determination of the application.

(a)          The Application before the Sub-Committee

The Licensing Officer informed the Sub-Committee that an application had been received on 27 August 2014 from Mr B Melton for a street trading consent to trade at 2 sites in Fairmead Road and Manor Road, High Beech, Epping Forest, the applicant intended selling hot/cold food and drinks from a mobile van Mondays to Fridays 9.00a.m. to 6.00p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays 9.00a.m. to 6.30p.m. The application had gone out for consultation although it was noted that there was no legal requirement to carry one out and the responsible authorities had been notified.

The Licensing Team had notified Essex Police, Environmental Health, County Highways, the clerk of Waltham Abbey Town Council and local District Councillor’s S Stavrou and R Gadsby. A public notice was also placed in the local newspaper. The District Council had received 7 letters of objection, one of which came from the Corporation of London, the others from members of the public. Also received were 251 letters supporting the application from members of the public. The police and Environment team had no objection to the application and no other responses were received.

(b)          Presentation of the Applicant’s Case

Mr P Morris described the intended site at Fairmead Road, the mobile diner would be parked by a verge, currently neglected with soil deposited on the road. The road width here was, on average 5.5m, with no obstructions for parking and emergency vehicles. The diner van would serve customers from the rear.

Mr Morris went onto discuss the manor Road site, he suggested that County Highways were not aware of a design scheme for this road. Speed humps along the road slowed down traffic. The diner was a self contained unit holding waste material and as equipped with a generator. Mr Morris claimed that with 2 million visitors to Epping Forest per year, there was ample trading. It was curious as to why objectors were concerned about the effect on trade, a local café had not objected nor had local enforcement agencies. Litter was collected daily at Mr Melton’s existing site and he was the sole  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.