A collection of money or sale of articles for the benefit of charitable or other purposes would require a Permit. A Permit will be required only where the collection will take place in any street or public place. A Street Collection Permit would not therefore be required for a collection to be held, for example, inside a shop, a public house, in the foyer of a cinema or theatre.
It is the District Council’s Policy, under Finance Sub-Committee 10 June 1992, (now Licensing Committee):-
- Street Collections/Flag Days be authorised to take place on Saturdays only, collections on other days of the week be authorised only in exceptional circumstances or in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of this Sub-Committee.
Midweek street collections
Council Policy was amended under Licensing Committee 12th March 2014, to clarify and incorporate the following in respect of midweek collections:
- Midweek street collections must be submitted to the Licensing Department no later than four weeks prior to the collection taking place.
- For midweek street collections applications taking place in conjunction with a children’s parade, i.e. Easter and Christmas, the following information should be appended to the application:-
- A street map showing the exact route from start to finish, stating the road names, whether the pedestrianised/marketplace areas are to be visited.
- The ages of the children participating and the maximum number of the children on the proposed Parade.
- The ratio of staff/adults to children numbers to be provided including confirmation that a first aid trained member of staff or adult will be present on the Parade.
- If the Parade involves school children from within the Bassetlaw area then confirmation that the Parade is covered by Nottinghamshire County Council Insurance.
- Confirmation that liaison with the Town Centre Manager and the local Police has taken place over the proposed Parade. If the street collection is to take place on a Market Day then provision may have to be agreed as to where the children/collectors may stand or walk without obstructing the market stallholders, members of the public and the emergency services access.
- A risk assessment to be submitted by the applicant.
- For midweek street collections who wish to collect on the pedestrianised areas or marketplaces within Worksop or Retford then the following information should be appended to the application:-
- The application to provide full details to cover both the person promoting the collection and the charitable organisation or society on behalf of which they will be collecting.
- If the applicant is collecting on behalf of a charity, then written authorisation must be provided from that Charity along with the application. The organisation’s registered charity number to be supplied (if applicable).
- Confirmation that liaison with the Town Centre Manager has taken place over the proposed street collection. If the street collection is to take place on a Market Day then provision may have to be agreed as to where the collectors may stand without obstructing the market stallholders, members of the public and the emergency services access.
There is no fee for this service.
House to House Collections
A promoter for a House to House Collection for a charitable purpose will require a licence.
This means any appeal to the public, made by visits from House to House, to give money or other property. “House” includes a place of business therefore anyone that collects from pub to pub will require a licence.
Where the Secretary of State is satisfied that a person pursues a charitable purpose throughout the whole of England and Wales, he may by Order direct that they shall be exempt from the licence provisions above. The Cabinet office publishes a List of Exempt Organisations.
There is no fee for this service.
Direct Debit Authorisations
The activities of Direct Debit Mandate collectors on the street are not regulated by law, and are not therefore subject to licensing provision. However the Council has in place a voluntary code of practice as follows:-
- Only one visit by each direct debit fundraising company per week to each town in the district.
- Only one fundraising direct debit company on the street at any one time.
- No direct debit fundraising companies to visit on the same day and place as a national or local charity street collection.
The Licensing Department will provide information on a monthly basis (see link below) of Street Collection Permits, House to House Licences and Direct Debit Mandate Collections, which have been granted/agreed to both local and national organisations, in order that you are aware of collections taking place within Worksop and Retford Town Centres (Street Collections and Direct Debit Mandate Collections) and the surrounding area of Bassetlaw (House to House Collections)
There is no fee for this service.
Last Updated on Thursday, January 4, 2024