Agenda item

Report of Licensing Manager.

The Licensing Manager introduced a report containing a schedule of the organisations that had applied for street collection permits in 2011, together with details of the Licensing Regulatory Committee’s current policy on the allocation of permits.

Members were reminded of the committee’s policy with regard to the allocation of permits, which was as follows:

(a)   That 96 street collection permits be available for allocation annually, as follows:-

18 for Lancaster, 18 for Morecambe, 12 for Carnforth and the Rural areas for national charities and 18 for Lancaster, 18 for Morecambe, 12 for Carnforth and the rural areas for local charities, which demonstrate that all money collected will be distributed within the City Council district.

(b)   That, in addition, permits be issued annually to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal: the Lancaster University Rag Appeal; the Lancaster, Morecambe & Carnforth Round Table Christmas Appeals; the Lancaster, Morecambe & Carnforth Carnivals; the Morecambe Branch of the RNLI and the Telethon Appeal.

(c)   That, if in any one year there are more allocations than permits available, then the allocation be determined by ballot, the Licensing Regulatory Committee being recommended to give first consideration to those applicants utilising their funds locally.

(d)   No charity to be granted street collection permits for both Lancaster and Morecambe in any one year.

(e)   That a charity which has been granted street collection permits for 3 consecutive years be granted a permit for the 4th year in succession, only if no other qualifying charities would, as a consequence, be deprived of a permit.

Members were informed that the Royal Air Force association had applied for street collection permits for Morecambe, Lancaster and Carnforth, all for the same date in September. If members were minded to grant these applications it would be a move from paragraph (d) in the policy on the allocation of street permits above.

Members were advised that there were sufficient permits available, in accordance with the policy, for all applicants to be granted a permit, although, in accordance with the policy those charities that have applied for permits for Lancaster and Morecambe may only be allocated one.

It was recommended that permits be issued to all applicants that met the criteria listed in the schedule, and that the Head of Governance be authorised to allocate the remaining permits on a ‘first come first served’ basis.

It was proposed by Councillor Johnson and seconded by Councillor Greenall:-

"(1)                   That permits be allocated to the 3 national charities that have applied for a permit for Lancaster.

(2)                 That a permit be allocated to the 1 national charity that has applied for a permit for Morecambe.

(3)                 That a permit be allocated to the 1 national charity that has applied for a permit in Carnforth.

(4)                 That a permit be allocated to the 1 national charity that has applied for a permit in Heysham

(5)                 That permits for Lancaster be allocated to the 3 local charities that demonstrate that all money collected will be distributed within the City Council District.

(6)                 That a permit for Morecambe be allocated to the 1 local charity that demonstrates that all money collected will be distributed within the City Council District.

(7)                 That the Head of Governance be authorised to allocate the remaining unallocated permits to both national and local charities, on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.”

Upon being put to the vote Members voted unanimously in favour of the proposition, whereupon the Chairman declared the proposition to be carried.

Resolved:

(1)                 That permits be allocated to the 3 national charities that have applied for a permit for Lancaster.

(2)                 That a permit be allocated to the 1 national charity that has applied for a permit for Morecambe.

(3)                 That a permit be allocated to the 1 national charity that has applied for a permit in Carnforth.

(4)                 That a permit be allocated to the 1 national charity that has applied for a permit in Heysham

(5)                 That permits for Lancaster be allocated to the 3 local charities that demonstrate that all money collected will be distributed within the City Council District.

(6)                 That a permit for Morecambe be allocated to the 1 local charity that demonstrates that all money collected will be distributed within the City Council District.

(7)                   That the Head of Governance be authorised to allocate the remaining unallocated permits to both national and local charities, on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.”