An East Lancashire borough is to revise its policy on ice cream vans and other street traders, including the introduction of more stringent criminal record checks.
Pendle Council's licensing committee will consider the new regime when it meets on Thursday, August 29.
If approved, it will go out to consultation for four weeks before being finally rubber-stamped by the authority's full council meeting.
A report to councillors says: "The council currently has 13 holders of street trading consents.
"The consents cover such things as the provision of food and drink from a fixed location, ice cream vans travelling around the borough as well as mobile fruit and vegetable vendors.
"The council’s current street trading policy dates back to January 2019.
"It is proposed to amend the policy to tighten up the existing wording and deal with a modernising marketplace.
"The proposed amendments seek to tighten up provisions in relation to trading in moving vehicles and also seek to deal with national concerns regarding child sexual exploitation for which a new course is provided for free by Blackburn with Darwen Council.
"Minor fee additions to cover variations mid-term of a licence are proposed as currently there is no fee charged.
"It is proposed to move the criminal record check from a basic disclosure to an enhanced disclosure and barring service disclosure due to the fact that street traders come into contact with young children and vulnerable adults in the course of their business.
Other changes within the policy include:
* hours of trading be from 9am until 9pm to prevent nuisance to nearby residential areas unless trading on an Industrial Estate for which this can be from 6am until 11pm to accommodate workers on these sites;
* not allow any motor vehicles to be sold on the public highway/pavement to prevent nuisance to nearby residents/premises; and
* the age for applicants to change from 17 years and above to 18 years old so applicants are of an adult age - this will be replicated for any employees in the interest of protecting children from harm and/or being exploited.
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