Agenda item

Melanie Sagar, Licensing Officer, outlined a report, requesting the Committee to comment on and approve the new draft policies for Street Collections and House to House Collections.

It was highlighted that the Council did not currently have in place specific policy documents in relation to ‘Street or House to House Collections and any applications received were managed using the Slough Borough Council (SBC) House to House Model Guidance for Public Charitable Collections, House to House Regulations, and SBC Street Collections Guidance and the SBC Model Street Collection Regulations.

The Licensing Team had therefore conducted a review of processes and procedures to address some concerns over the legitimacy of previous collections made and the recipient of the proceeds of the collections. The Officer advised that new draft policies had been drafted for both types of collections, which would also detail the application process and allow for detailed enquiries to be made and consultation with the Police.

Members were reminded that at the last meeting of the Licensing Committee in September, Members had resolved that the Home Office Model Street Collection Regulations (previously adopted in June 1974) be re-adopted. 

The Officer discussed the consultation process which would involve discussion with national and local charitable organisations, the Charities Commission and all previous applicants for charitable collections in Slough. Details would also be placed on the SBC website.

The Officer advised that a number of errors had been identified within the policy documents attached to the agenda papers as follows:

Street Collections

1.  Page 15 at Point 6.7 refer erred to licences, this should be amended to permits.

2.  Page 16 at Points 7.1, 7.2 and 8.1 referred to licence, this should be amended to permit.

3.  Top of page 20 referred to ‘breach of licence conditions’, this should be amended to permit conditions.

4.  The Flow Chart on Page 28 was not legible and this would be  replaced

House to House Collections

1.  The 5^th paragraph on page 39 referred to Cabinet Office this should be amended to ‘Minister of the Cabinet Office’.

2. The last bullet point on page 43 (above point 9.2) stated authorised persons this should be amended to ‘unauthorised person’.
3. The Flow Chart on Page 49 was not legible and this would be replaced

Members raised a number of questions during the ensuing debate which included:

·  How would applicants be checked and would there be a fee? There would be no fee for applications as this was not legally permitted. Checks would be made before a licence was approved through e.g. Companies House and the Charity Head Office.

·  How would householders know whether a Collector was genuine? The Collector would have a badge and if concerned the householder could contact the Licensing Team.

·  In the case of Street Collections, how would the Licensing Team communicate with existing charities and how would the public know if the Collectors were genuine? Street collections were few and far between- 5 had taken place in the last year and checks were made of the applicant. If there were concerns Thames Valley Police could also be contacted.

·  The policy had defined 4 exclusion areas where street collection permits would not be granted. How were these arrived at? 3 of the locations were in the vicinity of mosques. There had been particular problems in these localities with bogus collectors and following consultation with the mosques, the exclusion areas were agreed. The other locality was the town square in the High Street.

·  Could the Council’s website be more robust and could a list of future collections be published? The policy would ensure that processes were more robust and Officers could examine whether a list of authorised street collectors could be published. Also, an awareness campaign could be launched after the policies were approved.

·  It was concerning that someone could collect in the town centre and disappear before the Licensing Team was aware? The Licensing Team could not patrol the town centre at weekends due to resource and budgetary issues. However town centre police and PCO’s were aware of the collection policies and would identify any bogus collectors.

·  What powers did the police have if someone was apprehended? The police could prosecute under the Vagrancy Act.

·  Could door to door charity bag collectors be required to have a licence or authorisation? This was outside the remit of the Licensing Authority and was the responsibility of the Charity Commission.

·  Was it possible to control the number of street collections allowed? Yes the Licensing Officer could control the numbers and spread them out through the year.

Resolved- 

(a)   That the new draft policies (subject to the correction of typographical errors set out within the minutes) be approved.

(b)   That Officers commence a full consultation exercise.