Westminster City Council, as part of an overhaul of its fee structure for street traders, has proposed putting up the cost of applying for new permanent licences in the borough to £964 for non-food traders.
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Council → propose → traders
Non-food traders currently pay £96 for new applications.
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traders → pay → applications
If approved, the rise would amount to a 904% increase.
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rise → approve → increase
Other costs, however, would fall.
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costs → fall → ?
Weekend pitch fees could increase by up to 90% under proposals put forward by the cash-strapped flagship council.
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fees → increase → council
The measures, potentially affecting traders in the neighbourhoods of Soho, Westminster, Marylebone and Maida Vale, would raise daily pitch costs almost across the board, with Saturday rates jumping from £22 to £42 for some vendors.
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rates → affect → vendors
The borough is battling a drastic cut to its finances following the Labour Government’s reforms to local government support.
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borough → battle → support
The Conservative-led authority will lose about 15% of its 3,720-strong work force in a bid to save £29 million from its budget.
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authority → lead → budget
It comes after a so-called Fair Funding Review by ministers that is expected to mean a £100m reduction in Westminster’s funding over the next three years.
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that → come → years
Council tax could rise by as much as 75% in a bid to plug the shortfall.
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tax → rise → shortfall
Officers told the council’s licensing committee that they are currently running a deficit of around £2.4m across their street trading budget.
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they → tell → budget
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Even with the price increases, the council would still be facing a £1.6m black hole across the portfolio, they said.
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they → read → portfolio
The local authority is currently analysing responses to a consultation which finished at the end of September.
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which → analyse → September
Any approved changes will come into force in January 2027.
“There is a state of emergency virtually in this country with the economy.
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changes → approve → economy
All of our produce has gone up,” she said.
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she → go → produce
You have to make a living, money for the council and we have to make money, but frankly it is too much.”
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it → have → money
Vendors in Westminster currently pay a daily pitch fee of £22 to the council.
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Vendors → pay → council
Under the new proposals, these charges would be different depending on the day of the week, location and the type of produce being sold.
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charges → depend → produce
Hot food and takeaway traders in Berwick Street and Strutton Ground, in the St James’ area of Westminster, will be worst hit by the changes.
They will see their daily charge rise to between £39 to £44 depending on which day they are trading.
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they → hit → day
Maida Hill Market traders will see the least increase to their fees, with hot food and takeaway vendors set to pay between £31 and £36 each day of the week.
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vendors → see → week
Non-food traders will pay the lowest amount in their area, followed by fresh food and finally hot food and take-aways.
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traders → pay → food
Administration costs are also set to balloon for people who do not yet have a permanent licence to trade at Westminster markets.
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who → set → markets
Currently a new licence to sell non-food items costs £96, with a 50% discount for new businesses and 20% for Westminster residents.
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licence → sell → residents
Under the proposals this would increase to a whopping £964, although the cost of varying current licences would drop.
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cost → increase → licences
Isolated pitch licence fees would also decrease – by nearly 60% for some types of traders.
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fees → decrease → traders
A 5% discount for those who pay by direct debit will continue under the scheme, as well as reductions for the seasonal trade of ice cream.
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who → pay → cream
The council has been approached for comment.
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council → approach → comment
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