This meeting was about the Licensing Panel's consideration of an application for a temporary street trading licence for the Chiswick Cheese Market. The panel was also scheduled to be provided with a number of reference documents about the rules and procedures relating to the consideration of the application.

Application for the grant of a Temporary Street Trading licence in respect of Chiswick Cheese Market stalls

Cook Book Kitchen CIC was applying for a Temporary Street Trading Licence for Chiswick Cheese Market to allow them to expand the number of stalls at the market.

The applicant was requesting permission for up to 60 stalls to be placed along Chiswick High Road in the Old Market Place area between Linden Gardens and Devonshire Road plus the area between Devonshire Road and Annandale Road. They were also applying to place 'A' Boards along the street.

The stalls would offer fresh artisan cheese; all cheese related products; chutneys; sides for cheese, breads for cheese, items for mixed cheese boards, cheese/drink pairings, cheese boards and similar, anything to do with cheese, plus small amount of ready to eat cheese products. The market would take place on the third Sunday of each month between 9.30am - 3.00pm.

The Council's Investment Opportunities Officer, Daniel Murphy, informed the panel that due to the proposed removal of a parking space from the market place to accommodate the creation of the ‘Gingko Corner’ project, the applicant was only seeking permission for 59 stalls.

In the application Cook Book Kitchen CIC stated that this application represents a small increase in the number of stalls due to the increased popularity of Chiswick Cheese Market . They added that the increase would allow Chiswick Cheese Market to become even more successful and bring more and more visitors to Chiswick .

The application was accompanied by a number of representations from local residents, including two groups of residents who submitted joint representations. One of those groups argued that the market would undercut local businesses , and argued that the markets should not be allowed to dominate [Chiswick High Road] . The other group said that stall 58 is blocking pedestrian steps and access from the High Road to the shops .

The Chiswick Flower Market also made a representation to the meeting, asking the panel to support the application of the Cheese Market, with the exception of Pitch 1 which could be used by all the markets until the commencement of building works for the Ginkgo Corner .

Cook Book Kitchen CIC provided two responses to the representations, one to each of the resident groups. They responded to the group concerned about the market's impact on local businesses by saying that we very much hoped that the market would do two things – help keep our High Road vibrant and offer a route to market for the beleaguered artisan cheese industry. In their response to the group concerned about stall 58, they said that we had 60 stalls on our original license 3 years ago but we feel we are better suited to using a smaller space due to the nature of our stalls. So this is really a return to the original number of stalls rather than an increase .

The panel was scheduled to consider the application in accordance with the StreetTradingPolicy_jun20 2. In particular it was being asked to consider the impact of the market on public safety, crime and disorder, the likelihood of public nuisance, and the market's environmental credentials. The panel was also being asked to consider whether the market would meet the needs of the area.

Monitoring Officer Note on Interests

The report pack included a guidance note from the council's Monitoring Officer about declarations of interest. The note reminded Councillors that they should not participate in discussion or voting on matters in which they had a disclosable pecuniary interest, and that failure to disclose or register such an interest is a criminal offence.

Procedure for the conduct of Panel hearings

The report pack contained a document called 'Licensing Panel Procedure' which describes the rules and procedures of the Licensing Panel, and describes how meetings should be conducted. The document explains the right of applicants and those making representations to attend the hearing, address the panel, call witnesses and be given reasons for decisions. The document also explains the rules around the exclusion of the public from meetings.

Order of Business

The report pack contained a document called 'Order of Business' that set out the order in which the business of the meeting would be conducted. This included electing a Chair, the introduction of the Panel and Officers, and the order in which those making representations would be invited to speak. The document also set out when the panel would be asked to make its decision and how the decision would be communicated.

Hounslow Street Trading Policy

The report pack included a copy of the Council's 'Street Trading Policy', which sets out the rules about street trading in Hounslow. The policy makes clear that 'street trading' is defined as the selling or exposing or the offering for sale of any article (including a living thing) or the supplying or offering to supply any service in a street for gain or reward , and that street trading without a licence from the council is an offence. The document states that the council's policy is to create a street trading environment which is sensitive to the needs of residents, provides diversity and consumer choice, and seeks to enhance the character, ambience and safety of the environment . The policy describes the different types of licence that are available, how the council will determine applications, and the fees that are payable. The policy also describes how the council will enforce the rules, and the grounds for refusal of a licence, which include:

(a) The location at which the applicant wishes to trade as a stationary trader is unsuitable; (b) The space in the designated street in which the applicant wishes to trade as a stationary trader is inadequate for the applicant to do so without causing undue interference or inconvenience to persons or vehicles using the street; (c) The area or areas of the district in which the applicant wishes to trade as a mobile trader are unsuitable for the applicant to do so without causing undue interference or inconvenience to persons or vehicles in the area or areas; (d) There are sufficient traders trading in the street, or at premises adjoining it, in the articles, things or services in which the applicant wishes to trade; or (e) The nature of the articles, things or services in which the applicant wishes to trade is such that their sale or supply, or their preparation for sale or supply, would adversely affect the general amenity of the area in which the applicant wishes to trade