Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982

6 (1) When a district council receive an application for the grant or renewal of a street trading licence, they shall within a reasonable time— E+W

(a) grant a licence in the terms applied for; or

(b) serve notice on the applicant under sub-paragraph (2) below.

(2) If the council propose—

(a) to refuse an application for the grant or renewal of a licence; or

(b) to grant a licence on principal terms different from those specified in the application; or

(c) to grant a licence confining the applicant’s trading to a particular place in a street; or

(d) to vary the principal terms of a licence; or

(e) to revoke a licence,

they shall first serve a notice on the applicant or, as the case may be, the licence-holder—

(i) specifying the ground or grounds on which their decision would be based; and

(ii) stating that within 7 days of receiving the notice he may in writing require them to give him an opportunity to make representations to them concerning it.

(3) Where a notice has been served under sub-paragraph (2) above, the council shall not determine the matter until either—

(a) the person on whom it was served has made representations to them concerning their decision; or

(b) the period during which he could have required them to give him an opportunity to make representations has elapsed without his requiring them to give him such an opportunity; or

(c) the conditions specified in sub-paragraph (4) below are satisfied.

(4) The conditions mentioned in sub-paragraph (3)(c) above are—

(a) that the person on whom the notice under sub-paragraph (2) above was served has required the council to give him an opportunity to make representations to them concerning it, as provided by sub-paragraph (2)(ii) above;

(b) that the council have allowed him a reasonable period for making his representations; and

(c) that he has failed to make them within that period.

(5) A person aggrieved—

(a) by the refusal of a council to grant or renew a licence, where—

(i) they specified in their notice under sub-paragraph (2) above one of the grounds mentioned in paragraph 3(6)(d) to (g) above as the only ground on which their decision would be based; or

(ii) they specified more than one ground in that notice but all the specified grounds were grounds mentioned in those paragraphs; or

(b) by a decision of a council to grant him a licence with principal terms different from those of a licence which he previously held, where they specified in their notice under sub-paragraph (2) above the ground mentioned in paragraph 3(6)(g) above as the only ground on which their decision would be based; or

(c) by a decision of a council—

(i) to vary the principal terms of a licence; or

(ii) to revoke a licence,

in a case where they specified in their notice under sub-paragraph (2) above one of the grounds mentioned in paragraph 5(1)(b) to (d) above as the only ground on which their decision would be based or they specified more than one ground in that notice but all the specified grounds were grounds mentioned in those paragraphs,

may, at any time before the expiration of the period of 21 days beginning with the date upon which he is notified of the refusal or decision, appeal to the magistrates’ court acting for the petty sessions area in which the street is situated.

(6) An appeal against the decisions of a magistrates’ court under this paragraph may be brought to the Crown Court.

(7) On an appeal to the magistrates’ court or the Crown Court under this paragraph the court may make such order as it thinks fit.

(8) Subject to sub-paragraphs (9) to (11) below, it shall be the duty of the council to give effect to an order of the magistrates’ court or the Crown Court.

(9) The council need not give effect to the order of the magistrates’ court until the time for bringing an appeal under sub-paragraph (6) above has expired and, if such an appeal is duly brought, until the determination or abandonment of the appeal.

(10) If a licence-holder applies for renewal of his licence before the date of its expiry, it shall remain valid—

(a) until the grant by the council of a new licence with the same principal terms; or

(b) if—

(i) the council refuse renewal of the licence or decide to grant a licence with principal terms different from those of the existing licence, and

(ii) he has a right of appeal under this paragraph,

until the time for bringing an appeal has expired or, where an appeal is duly brought, until the determination or abandonment of the appeal; or

(c) if he has no right of appeal under this paragraph, until the council either grant him a new licence with principal terms different from those of the existing licence or notify him of their decision to refuse his application.

(11) Where—

(a) a council decide—

(i) to vary the principal terms of a licence; or

(ii) to revoke a licence; and

(b) a right of appeal is available to the licence-holder under this paragraph,

the variation or revocation shall not take effect until the time for bringing an appeal has expired or, where an appeal is duly brought, until the determination or abandonment of the appeal.