Agenda item

            The Building Control Manager informed the Members that an application had been received from Mr. T. Seenan for the grant of a Mobile Street Trading Licence to trade in the Andersonstown, Dunmurry, Finaghy, Ladybrook, Poleglass, Suffolk, Turf Lodge and Twinbrook areas of the City. The applicant was seeking to sell confectionery, groceries, ice cream and non-alcoholic beverages from a van from Monday to Sunday between the hours of 12.00 p.m. and 9.00 p.m. in those areas.

            He reminded the Committee that Section 9 of the Street Trading Act (Northern Ireland) 2001 permitted the Council, in certain circumstances, to refuse an application if the applicant had, at any time, had a Street Trading Licence revoked as a result of their refusal or failure to pay fees or other charges due to the Council. Accordingly, he drew the Committee’s attention to the fact that, at its meeting on 18th June, 2014, it had agreed

to revoke a Mobile Street Trading Licence which had been granted previously to Mr. Seenan for the sale of confectionary, ice cream and non-alcoholic beverages in the

Andersonstown, Ladybrook, Turf Lodge and Suffolk areas. That decision had been taken on the grounds that he had owed the Council £843.87 in licence fee arrears, despite significant efforts being made by officers to manage his debt, and that he had, on two occasions, declined the opportunity to appear before the Committee to discuss the matter. He pointed out that, despite having since paid his arrears, Mr. Seenan was only now re-applying for a licence and that he had no licence infringements. He added that no other traders had been trading in the Ladybrook, Turf Lodge, Suffolk and Andersonstown areas since Mr. Seenan’s licence had been revoked and that neither the Police Service of Northern Ireland nor Transport NI, as statutory consultees, had objected to his application.

            The Committee was informed that the applicant was in attendance and it agreed that it would be beneficial to obtain details from him around the circumstances which had contributed to the revocation of his licence in 2014.

            Mr. Seenan informed the Members that his failure in 2014 to pay the licence fees arrears owed to the Council could be attributed to the fact that both he and his mother had been experiencing health issues at that time. As soon as he had been made aware of the extent of the arrears, he had taken immediate steps and had cleared his debt in full. He concluded by stating that his mother had since died and that he now wished to commence trading again.

The Chairperson thanked Mr. Seenan for his contribution.  

            The Committee agreed, in its capacity as Licensing Authority, to grant to Mr. T. Seenan a Mobile Street Trading Licence permitting him to sell from a van confectionery, ice cream, groceries and non-alcoholic beverages from Monday to Sunday between the hours of 12.00 p.m. and 9.00 p.m. in the Andersonstown, Dunmurry, Finaghy, Ladybrook, Poleglass, Suffolk, Turf Lodge and Twinbrook areas of the City.