Street trading

How do I apply?

Before applying you’ll need to complete the following steps. At the final step you’ll be able to apply for your Street Trading Consent.

Step 1: When is your event?

As part of this process, your application will go through a 28 day consultation period. We therefore will not accept applications where the first date of the event is less than 28 clear days away.

We recommend that you submit at least 2 months before the first event date to be sure of sufficient application processing time.

Step 2: Nominated individual

If your event is being run by a company or organisation, you need to nominate an individual to be your Consent Holder.  This individual will need to complete the application and provide the documentation below. Should a consent be issued, they will become the responsible person, ensuring that all the terms and conditions of the consent are adhered to.

Step 3: Basic disclosure

The applicant must obtain a basic disclosure. Request a basic DBS check - GOV.UK

When submitted the certificate must be no more than 30 days old.

Step 4: Proof of right to work

It is an offence under the Immigration Act 2016 to work, or allow someone to work, if they don’t have the appropriate right to work in the UK.

As the applicant, you will need to prove that you have the right to live and work in the UK.

It is a condition of an issued consent that you carry out this check on all staff, but you don’t have to provide this evidence at this time of application.

You must either:

• share your immigration status using the Home Office online checking service ‘prove your right to work to an employer’ if your status is compatible with the service, or
• provide a copy of a document or document combination that is stipulated as being suitable for this check. Find which documents are suitable.

Where an online check has been carried out, the ‘profile’ page confirming your right to work will be retained by the licensing authority.

Where a manual check is carried out, you must provide a copy of the documents and the copies will be retained by the licensing authority.

Step 5: Passport style photographs

The applicant must submit an up to date photograph. This must be a recent, clear, passport style photograph. This can be either scanned onto a computer or taken with your smartphone or tablet.

Step 6: Location

You will need to have found a suitable location to hold your event. Ensure that you have read the Street Trading Policy and your proposed location meets the requirements.

You will be asked to upload a plan which indicates the proposed location of the event. The plan will need to show:

• Any adjacent roads with labels as to their name
• A red line indicating the extent of the boundary in which you propose to be trading
• The location of any buildings or fixed furniture within your boundary

Step 7: Liability insurance

You are required to hold Public Liability Insurance of no less than £5,000,000 and Employer’s Liability Insurance of no less than £10,000,000. You must be able to upload a copy of the valid certificates with this application.

Apply for a new street trading consent

You can apply using our online form below. It takes about 15 minutes to complete. At the end of the form, we’ll ask you to pay using a credit or debit card, so please have your card details to hand.

We'll ask you for:

• Your personal details
• Details of the event
• The location you will be trading

What happens next?

You will hear from us within in the next 5 working days.

Once we have a complete application a consultation period of 28 days will begin.

When deciding on your application we will take into account any comments submitted during this consultation period.

What if my application is granted?

You will be notified and sent a link to make the Part B payment. Your consent will not be issued until this payment is made.

You must provide the relevant information, as set out in the Street Trading Policy, at least seven days prior to the event.

What if my application is refused?

There is no appeal process to the Magistrate’s Court for street trading consents.

If an applicant wishes to make representations in respect of a decision to refuse a street trading consent, they can put this in writing along with the reasons to the licensing section (licensing@gravesham.gov.uk)  within 14 days of being notified of the decision.

The representation will be carefully reviewed by the Head of Community Protection, who will consider whether the action taken was reasonable and proportionate, before communicating the final decision to the applicant.