Agenda item

To consider a report by the Head of Planning and Public Protection (copy enclosed) presenting the proposed House to House Collection Policy for formal consultation prior to approval.

RESOLVED that –

(a)       the proposed House to House Collection Policy (Appendix A to the report) be supported and officers be authorised to commence formal consultation with charitable organisations that had applied and collected within the county over the last 12 months, and

(b)       following consultation officers report back any objections to the Licensing Committee for consideration and approval of the new policy, or in the event that no responses were received, the House to House Collection Policy be approved for adoption with effect from 1 April 2020.

The Licensing Officer submitted a report (previously circulated) presenting the draft House to House Collection Policy for formal consultation prior to approval.

Officers explained that the Council did not have a clear and detailed policy to consider applications for house to house collections and sought members’ approval of the draft policy to ensure all parties were informed of the requirements and process and would allow the Council to make consistent and transparent decisions.  Some background was provided in terms of the legislative requirements and processes to be followed and it was noted that whilst licences were generally issued by the Council, there were ‘National Exemption’ Orders available to charities who wished to undertake a high number of simultaneous collections across the country issued by the Secretary of State.  The current practice was to grant permits to organisations without Home Office Exemption Orders provided such collections did not overlap with other collections and that societies be limited to one collection within a twelve month period.  This approach aimed to avoid saturating the area with collectors from different charities.

Given that the proposed policy would cover all aspects of the process and requirements and there was no significant change to the current practice officers recommended that consultation took place only with charitable organisations that had applied and collected within the county over the last twelve months, with any objections brought back before the committee.  If no objections were received the policy would come into effect 1 April 2020.  In response to questions officers –

·         advised that Home Office Exemption Orders were issued by the UK Government to charitable organisations in England and Wales

·         clarified the circumstances during which a permit would be required when collecting for a charitable purpose by means of visits from house to house

·         confirmed permits would be granted by the Council in cases where a Home Office Exemption Certificate had not been issued and charitable organisations met the legislative provisions and requirements of the Council’s policy document – there was no charge for a House to House Collection permits issued by the Council

·         explained that the legislative requirements had not changed and there was no change proposed to the Council’s existing practice, and

·         if members were minded to support the policy officers would advise the Licensing Committee in the event that no objections were received in response to the formal consultation on the document which would then become effective from April 2020.

After due consideration it was –

RESOLVED that –

(a)       the proposed House to House Collection Policy (Appendix A to the report) be supported and officers be authorised to commence formal consultation with charitable organisations that had applied and collected within the county over the last 12 months, and

(b)       following consultation officers report back any objections to the Licensing Committee for consideration and approval of the new policy, or in the event that no responses were received, the House to House Collection Policy be approved for adoption with effect from 1 April 2020.