Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Head of Planning and Public Protection (copy enclosed) seeking members’ views on the draft Supplementary Planning Guidance document on hot-food takeaways prior to public consultation.

RESOLVED that, subject to members’ comments, the draft Supplementary Planning Guidance document on hot-food takeaways be received and noted.

The Planning Policy Manager and Planning Officer presented a report by the Head of Planning and Public Protection (previously circulated) seeking members’ views on the draft Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) document on hot-food takeaways prior to its submission to Planning Committee and public consultation.  The Local Development Plan Steering Group had requested the guidance be presented to the Licensing Committee in view of the clear links with licensing.

Members were advised of the need to update existing SPGs following adoption of the Local Development Plan in June 2013.  Following a review of this particular guidance some minor changes had been proposed but the main change was the proposal to introduce a restriction on new hot-food takeaways within 400m of any school boundary.  Officers elaborated upon other considerations within the document of particular interest to licensing and emphasised that the guidance would only apply to new planning applications and would not affect existing hot-food takeaway premises.

During consideration of the draft guidance discussion focused on the following –

·        the committee supported the proposal to introduce an exclusion zone near schools and was keen for this restriction to be extended to mobile hot food businesses with greater controls exercised over mobile traders generally and proactive enforcement.  Officers explained the legalities governing mobile traders advising they could not be regulated via the planning mechanism but through Street Trading Consents and Hawkers Licences.  It was agreed that reference be made to street trading within the guidance clarifying those areas of responsibility and control.  However, concerns remained that adequate controls could not be exercised over particular traders which fell outside the Council’s legislative jurisdiction

·        members reported upon existing traffic and parking problems experienced near established hot-food takeaways and lack of enforcement and officers provided assurances that consultation with Highways formed part of the planning process for new applications

·        reference was made to paragraph 6.7 regarding litter and members felt that those measures should be strengthened and made mandatory if possible.

The Planning Policy Manager advised that members’ comments would be put before Planning Committee in July when considering the draft document.  She added that members would have a further opportunity to comment during the formal consultation stage.

RESOLVED that, subject to the above comments, the draft Supplementary Planning Guidance document on hot-food takeaways be received and noted.