Agenda

Including any notices of motion and any other items of business submitted as urgent for consideration at the meeting.

Members should declare any financial and non-financial interests they have in the items of business for consideration, identifying the relevant agenda item and the nature of their interest.

If any.

Minute of the Regulatory Committee of 8 March 2021 – submitted for approval as a correct record

Rolling Actions Log

Regulatory Committee Business Bulletin

None.

By Councillor Barrie – Street Occupation, Trading, Licenses and Permits

“Committee will be aware of question 18 at Council on 29th April and the response provided:

Question (1) What support is being made available by CEC to walking tours to ‘get businesses back on their feet’ and will their licensing fees be similarly waived or discounted?

Answer (1) The majority of walking tours do not require a license under the current provisions of the relevant licensing legislation, as either payment is made on-line or the tour is free of charge and relies on tips. Walking tours are encouraged to engage with and participate in the Forever Edinburgh recovery campaign. They have also had access to similar financial support as other businesses, in particular the discretionary fund in the event that they were ineligible for the Visit Scotland tour guide fund. If walking tours can evidence income drop as an eligible business, they would also have been eligible for discretionary support funding. We are aware some walking tour guide guides qualified for the tour guide support, which was administered by Visit Scotland, businesses which received this funding would have been ineligible for additional payments through the discretionary support.

Question (2) Will Council consider favourably allowing walking tours to apply for Outdoor Area Occupation Permits to allow them on street visibility to aid their business recovery?

Answer (2) While the Council is taking all possible means to support business recovery, Outdoor Area Occupation Permits are specifically for businesses who want to provide tables and chairs on the pavement and therefore could not be used for the purpose of increasing on-street visibility.

Committee will be aware that the discretionary financial support described in answer (1) was very likely available to the licensed premises that have had their outdoor area occupation permits waived by Council.

Answer (2) suggests that ‘Council is taking all possible means to support business recovery.’

In support of  ‘all possible means’ Committee calls for an urgent report, within one cycle, to consider what further steps could be taken regarding permits costs, eligibility of businesses not necessarily seeking to use table and chairs as part of business recovery, to apply for and use suitable Outdoor Areas in the city and whether such permits would be chargeable. This report should include consideration of conditions and costs applied to market traders, street traders and outdoor space occupancy with a view to considering what amendments might take place to assist companies and organisations in their post Corvid recovery and beyond.

Should beneficial measures be identified prior to the next Regulatory Committee that takes place on August 23rd, consideration should be given to see if they can be implemented if agreement can be reached with Group Spokespersons.”