To consider an application for the review of a Street Trading Consent for the pitch located outside Clarks on Broad Street, Reading.

The Sub-Committee considered a report on an application by Reading Borough Council Licensing Team to review the Street Trading Consent in respect of the pitch located outside Clarks, 105 Broad Street, Reading.

The report stated that the application for a review of the premise licence had been submitted by the Licensing Team due to a failure by the consent holder to avail themselves to a reasonable extent of the street trading consent they had been granted.

The Sub-Committee heard that upon the renewal of Mr Alami’s street trading consent in 2023, a representation from Mr Robert Smalley, Reading Borough Council Licensing Enforcement Officer had been received and a hearing held on 28 November 2023. Mr Smalley stated that the consent should not be renewed due to the failure of Mr Alami to avail himself to a reasonable extent of the street trading consent. The Sub-Committee had decided to grant the application for the renewal of the Street Trading Consent for the sale of ‘Juices, Smoothies, Slushies, Shakes, Cakes and Hot Food and Drink not specifically listed on any existing street trading consent/licence previously granted by Reading Borough Council’. The minutes from this hearing were attached to the report as Appendix TS-1.

Mr Smalley’s request for a Review was attached at Appendix TS-2, and focused on Mr Alami’s continued failure to avail himself to a reasonable extent of the street trading consent, including details of 41 days during the period December 2024 to 6 May 2025 when Mr Alami was not seen to be trading. A copy of the current Street Trading Consent, amended at Mr Alami’s request upon renewal in October 2024, was attached at Appendix TS-3. This permitted the sale of “Burgers, Loaded Fries, Jacket Potatoes, Slushies, Lemonade, Mango Lassi, Hot Food and Drink, not specifically listed on any existing street trading licence/consent previously granted by Reading Borough Council”. Photographs of the pitch location and trading unit were attached as Appendices TS-4 and TS-5 respectively.

During the 28-day consultation period, no representations had been received from the consent holder. Following the circulation of the agenda, additional information submitted by Victor Graham on Mr Alami’s behalf had been received and circulated to members of the Sub-Committee and to all relevant parties.

The report also explained that the Licensing authority, when determining an application for the review of a street trading consent may:

• Take no action
• Vary the times, conditions and goods to be sold
• Revoke the consent

The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 was the legislation that governed Street Trading outside London. Schedule 4, paragraph 7, sub-paragraph 6 of the Act stated:

The council may at any time vary the conditions of a street trading consent.

Schedule 4, paragraph 7, sub-paragraph 10 of the Act stated:

A street trading consent may be granted for any period not exceeding 12 months but may be revoked at any time.

Schedule 4, Paragraph 9, sub-paragraph 5 of the Act stated:

Where a consent is surrendered or revoked, the council shall remit or  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.