Agenda item

Members received the Pavement Licensing Report, addressing the expiration of existing Pavement Licences in the Borough on September 30, 2023. The licensing system aimed to facilitate outdoor seating for hospitality venues on safe highways.

Plans were underway to permanently transfer Pavement Licences from Surrey County Council to Surrey Heath Borough Council following enactment of the Business and Planning Act.

Through the pandemic, the £100 fee for Pavement Licences was waived. It was proposed to reinstate the fee for new applications from October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024.

Key points discussed included:

1.    The consideration of waived fees for charities and CICs.

2.    The cost of administering a Pavement Licence was estimated to be £500.

3.    Encouraging a more vibrant culture in Surrey Heath through increased Pavement Licences could have increased footfall.

4.    It was agreed that the £100 fee was acceptable for commercial businesses.

5.    A further report would be brought to the Committee once the Levelling Up Bill was passed to agree the structure and duration of Licences.

6.    Pavement Licences run from the 1st October to 30^th September, and businesses would need to re-apply yearly.

RESOLVED that the Fee for applications for a Pavement Licence be reinstated under the provisions of the Business and Planning Act 2020 from 1 October 2023 with the exception of Community Interest Companies and Charitable Organisations.