Cllr Clare Fardell spoke up for voluntary community groups at the South Gloucestershire Council meeting on 20th July

South Gloucestershire Council’s Licensing, Regulatory & General Purposes Committee are currently consulting on new charges for voluntary groups applying for a Street Trading Licence when they hold street fairs and similar events. At the moment such groups are exempt from Street Licence fees but in future the only exemptions proposed will be for events which make an entry charge.

The annual fee will vary depending on how often Community Groups hold such events, but currently the minimum fee for a single event appears to be over £150.

“Even relatively low charges are likely to prevent some community events from taking place,” said Cllr Fardell. “These open air events are run by volunteers, sometimes promote local food, and/or local arts and crafts, and greatly increase the vitality of their areas. They should be actively encouraged and not penalised. I hope everyone who is worried about this will look at the Consultation Document on the South Glos website and respond before the closing date of 12th August.”

South Gloucestershire Council’s Liberal Democrat group have asked the Licensing, Regulatory & General Purposes Committee to continue to exempt community and charitable organisations, and to consider carefully what charges are justifiable for those organisations which may not quite qualify for exemptions. Cllr Fardell hoped that other councillors would also support this view.

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