Issue - meetings

Free distribution of leaflets/flyers on designated land

Meeting: 23/04/2012 - Executive (Item 5)

5 Control of distribution of free literature on designated land PDF 99 KB

This report recommends adoption of licensing powers to regulate the distribution of free literature (flyers/leaflets/newsletters/ newspapers), which causes significant littering problems and can impede passers-by who have literature thrust at them. These controls are being sought now to assist with the effective control of literature distributors anticipated during the Olympic period in an attempt to reduce the amount of waste printed material deposited in certain areas of the borough.

Decision:

(i) that approval be given to the designation of the following roads as places where free literature may not be distributed without the Council’s prior written consent in the form of a licence as described in paragraph 3.2 of the report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services:

Kilburn/Cricklewood – Kilburn High Road, Shoot-Up Hill, Cricklewood Broadway, Willesden Lane

Willesden/Harlesden – High Road (Willesden), Walm Lane, Craven Park Road, High Street (Harlesden), Dudden Hill Lane, Station Road (Harlesden).

Wembley – Bridge Road, Wembley Hill Road, Wembley Park Drive, Park Lane, Empire Way, South Way, Rutherford Way, Engineers Way, Olympic Way, Fulton Road, Brook Avenue, Great Central Way, First Way, Fourth Way, Fifth Way, High Road, Harrow Road, St John’s Road, Lancelot Road, Ealing Road, Ecclestone Place, London Road, Dagmar Avenue, Linden Avenue, Mostyn Avenue

Kingsbury/Kenton/Edgware – Kenton Road, Kingsbury Road, Edgware Road

(ii) that approval be given to the fees set out in paragraph of the Director’s report;

(iii) that the proposed licence conditions in Appendix 1 to the Director’s report be applied to all licences.

Minutes:

Councillor Powney (Lead Member, Environment and Neighbourhoods) introduced the report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services which proposed the adoption of licensing powers to regulate the distribution of free literature with a view to controlling distributors especially during in the Olympic period and reduce waste printed material in particular areas. Councillor Powney referred to deputations earlier in the evening from local residents speaking against the proposals and clarified that in his communications about the report he had made it clear that literature for political purposes would not be affected. What was required was a clarification of the legislation. He stated that the regulations were not just for the Olympic period or for Olympic venues and drew attention to the areas concerned and fees based on cost recovery adding that the council should not be expected to pay the clean-up costs of littering for commercial purposes. The proposals were now out for consultation and any objections would be reported back for consideration. Councillor Powney commended the recommendations to the Executive.

Councillor Sneddon questioned the evidence base for the claim that leaflets lead to litter, asked about action taken to address problems caused by the sale of fast food and what other boroughs were doing in response to the legislation. He felt that reference to the Olympic period was misleading as there was no time limit on implementation. In answer to a query on enforcement and the cost implications, Councillor Powney responded that the legislation had been in place since 2005, was being implemented in the expectation of more activity during the Olympic period and once distributers were registered enforcement would be easier.

RESOLVED:

(i) that approval be given to the designation of the following roads as places where free literature may not be distributed without the council’s prior written consent in the form of a licence as described in paragraph 3.2 of the report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services: