Residents will be asked to have their say on the proposed introduction of a new street trade licensing scheme.
Basildon Council’s Licensing Committee agreed last week to move forward with plans to designate all streets within the borough as consent streets to control street trading. Parks, set areas within Basildon Town Centre and named A-roads will be prohibited under the scheme.
A public consultation will take place from Monday, 11 December until Sunday, 21 January to gather views on the proposals, which are part of the draft street trading consent policy.
If the scheme is introduced it will be illegal to trade in a consent street without first obtaining permission from Basildon Council. Consents are granted for a maximum of 12 months and there is no right of appeal if it is removed or refused.
Cllr Alan Bennett, Chairman of Basildon Council’s Licensing Committee, said: “We hope to introduce clarity, transparency and accountability when it comes to street trade licensing by introducing a new policy.
“Granting consents is seen as a more temporary approach compared to granting licences and we believe this will enable us to have a better understanding of who is trading where. It will also create a more level playing field between mobile and permanent businesses and give us more powers to remove illegal traders.”
