Issue - meetings

The Director of Neighbourhood Services submitted a report examining the possible benefits to negotiating Site Management Agreements for Hertford, Ware and Bishop’s Stortford for direct debit face-to-face collections.

The Senior Specialist Licensing Officer reminded Members that charities undertaking a cash collection had to contact the Council and were assigned a specific day to prevent the public being bombarded with collectors.   He stated that large charities were exempted from the need to advise the Council of proposed collections, but that it was helpful if they did give advance notifications.

In the case of direct debit street collections, no such approach needed to be made to the Council.  The Senior Specialist Licensing Officer provided a brief summary of the rules of the Public Fundraising Regulation Association (PFRA) in relation to street collections and of the mechanisms by which the public could complain. 

The Senior Specialist Licensing Officer drew Members’ attention to a proposed approach in relation to negotiating a Site Management Agreement for Hertford, Ware and Bishop’s Stortford.

Councillor D Andrews stated that it was not just town centres which were “plagued” with the collectors but villages too.  He was concerned about the forceful tactics employed by the collectors.  This view was supported by Councillor Mrs R Cheswright.

Councillor E Buckmaster agreed that direct debit collections needed more rigorous regulation and he referred to the need to engage with the PFRA on this issue.

Councillor P Ballam supported the suggestion that resilience be built into the system.  She referred to vulnerable people who could easily be intimidated to sign up to a direct debit arrangement which they might not be able to afford.

Members received the report and supported the suggestion that Officers engage with the Public Fundraising Regulatory Authority (PFRA) in order to draft Site Management Agreements in respect of Hertford, Ware and Bishop’s Stortford and that the Officer report back to Members. 

RESOLVED – that (A) the report be received; and

(B)   Officers negotiate with the Public Fundraising Regulatory Authority (PFRA) in order to draft appropriate Site Management Agreements in respect of Hertford, Ware and Bishop’s Stortford for approval by the Licensing Committee.