Issue - meetings

Report ES13098

The Committee received a report outlining the provisions of the new Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 and requesting that the Executive Director of Environment and Community Services be authorised to undertake the necessary duties. The Act established a new licensing regime to be administered by local authorities. All scrap metal dealers would be required to have a licence, including motor salvage operators, and operating without one would be a criminal offence.  There were two types of licence, a site licence and a collector’s licence, and the Act specified that a dealer could only hold one type of licence in any local authority area. Charges for the new licences had recently been agreed by the Environment Portfolio Holder. 

Members commented that the Council should ensure that the Environment Agency was robust in carrying out its duties in relation to scrap metal dealers’ sites.

One amendment to the recommendations in the report was agreed to confirm that where revocation was being considered because the licensee was no longer a suitable person such cases would be determined by the Licensing Sub-Committee.

RESOLVED that

(1)  The Committee notes that the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 is being brought in to force between 1 October and 1 December 2013 and that the Council has a duty to enforce it.

(2)    The Licensing Sub Committee retains authority to determine applications where refusal to grant a licence is being considered and where revocation is being considered because the licensee is no longer a suitable person.

(3)   The Executive Director of Environment and Community Services be authorised as set out in the report.