Agenda and minutes

(Assistant to the Chief Executive) To declare interests in any item on this agenda.

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

As attached.

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

(Director of Corporate Support Services) To consider the attached report.

The three Councillors that presided over this item were Councillors D Wixley, M Sartin and N Wright. The Chairman welcomed the participants and requested that they introduce themselves to the Sub-Committee. In attendance on behalf of the application were: Mr Polat, the applicant; Mr Hussain, representing the applicant; and Mr Ali, a companion of the applicant. Objecting to the application was one of the local ward members for North Weald Bassett, District Councillor D Stallan. The Chairman then introduced the members and officers present, and outlined the procedure that would be followed for the determination of the application.

The Application before the Sub-Committee

The Assistant Solicitor informed the Sub-Committee that an application for a Street Trading Consent in Hurricane Way, North Weald had been received from Mr Polat, along with representations from interested parties. The application had requested permission to serve hot and cold food from a trailer between the hours of 4.00pm and 11.00pm each day. The trailer would be driven to the site each afternoon and driven away from the site each evening. Essex Police had been informed of the application but, after undertaking checks, had not offered any objection. There were no responses from the Environment & Neighbourhood team, Highways Officers at Essex County Council and the Parish Council.

Presentation of the Applicant’s Case

Mr Hussain stated that the application was for a Street Trading Consent to run a Burger Van in Hurricane Way between the hours of 4.00pm and 11.00pm each day. There were no parking restrictions at the site, and the applicant’s preferred location would be opposite the Mini-Cab Office. However, the applicant would be willing to consider an alternative location or schedule to placate the objections received.

Questions for the Applicant from the Sub-Committee

In response to questions from the Sub-Committee, Mr Hussain explained that the Mini-Cab Office was open 24 hours a day, plus there were some commercial units in Hurricane Way, including Bookers Cash & Carry store. The applicant had run a similar business in the past in Harlow at an industrial estate. That licence had been from 5.00pm to 5.00am each day, and it was felt that the proposed location in Hurricane Way would generate sufficient trade to support the business during the hours requested.

Cllr Stallan highlighted that lorries were not permitted to park in Hurricane Way overnight, but they did anyway, and also used the applicant’s preferred location. It was also pointed out that the Bookers Cash & Carry store tended to close at 5.00pm most evenings.

The Chairman stated that the location was very quiet between 4.00pm and 5.00pm, and again later at 8.00pm, when he visited Hurricane Way last week. There were no yellow lines at the location, but there were very few parking locations due to the white hatching down the middle of the road. There were public amenity recycling bins situated in Hurricane Way and the applicant would not be able to block the entrances to the business units either. Therefore, there appeared to be limited options at  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.