A councillor has raised concerns over a new street trading policy which he branded a “betrayal” of community events.

Stockton Council has just made the entire Stockton borough a consent area for street trading, and not just certain streets. This means anyone wanting to sell goods on a street will need consent to trade from the council.

The plans were passed by the council earlier this year despite a mixed reception, with some saying it was “a sensible and considered way forward”, others warning it would be “excessive and oppressive” and a “stealth tax” which would put small traders out of business. Council leaders asserted most concerns about impact on charity or non-profit-making organisations were allayed by changes to the policy during consultation.

However, Cllr Ted Strike, an independent member for Ingleby Barwick, raised the issue at a full Stockton Council meeting. He asked for clarification of the new regulations as the Ingleby Barwick Community Partnership which he chairs is to hold its first market on April 13 – but his call to change the policy was rejected.

He said one event organiser had been told the cost would be £100 for up to 20 traders. He asked whether the Ingleby Community Market, which had traded for nine years, along with fairs, family fun weekends or events which charge would be exempt from the new rules.

Cllr Norma Stephenson, cabinet member for communities, replied the new trading regime started in March after “an extensive period of consultation” and themes were raised and addressed by changes to the guidelines.

She said: “Established markets are exempt. The Ingleby Community Market, whilst an asset to the area and well attended, is not an established market under the markets charter – that’s not a council charter, it’s a national charter – and as such would require a temporary event consent.

“Fairs are exempt. Fairground rides are not classed as trading under the primary legislation so they would not require consent. However any trading, that is the selling of goods, would require a temporary event consent.

“Does the family fun weekend come under these rules? The commercial trading of these events would fall under this regime, yes. They would require a temporary event consent.

“Are events that charge to attend exempt? Providing robust plans are in place to control access to the event, for example a car boot sale with an entrance fee, then yes they would be exempt.”

She said temporary event consents and fees had been in place for some time: “We have now extended the area to which they apply to include the whole borough. The new procedural guidance is available online and a new online application and payment process is in place to ensure the process is as easy and efficient as it can be.”

Cllr Strike added: “Stockton Borough Council pride themselves on being an events council. Taxing private community events does not sit well with that, does it?

“Does the council agree with me that all established markets should be exempt from this stealth tax, not just Stockton Borough Council markets?”

He said Ingleby Barwick Community Partnership would “certainly not be paying” the fee and would bring in a £1 entry fee with promotional vouchers if necessary. He added the “unnecessary tax” could prevent community events.

He asked: “Can the council advise me what they will do with their 30 pieces of silver? How is charging our market traders, and not SBC market traders, fair and equal?

“Will SBC change these rules immediately and exempt existing events, including but not limited to Thornaby Show, one of the oldest events going, Billingham Show, Ingleby Barwick family fun weekend, Ingleby Market and, more recently, Thrift?”

Cllr Stephenson answered the Ingleby Barwick market did not fit the criteria for an established market: “And that isn’t a Stockton Council criteria.

“Legislation states that any money made from licensing can only be spent on licensing. It’s ring-fenced.

“The question about would we change this now – no.”

Cllr Strike later said in a statement: “IBCP are a not for profit organisation and we have to raise all monies ourselves. This £100 (minimum) a month charge on our market, and the money we have to pay for up to 60 to 80 stalls at our family fun weekend will mean that we will have less money to spend on the family fun weekend and also on additional lights at Christmas.

“Handing over hundreds of pounds to SBC for this stealth tax does not help our small committee in bringing these free events to our residents. They should be ashamed of themselves.”

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I’m just really disgusted. I think they should hang their heads in shame. I do believe it’s a betrayal of community events and craft stalls.”

He complained of a lack of consultation, contact and information to parish and town councils, and the bureaucracy and costs of applications and DBS checks which would hit hobbyists: “Now they’ve got us in a position where we can’t do anything. They’ve got us over a barrel.

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“It’s just a charge on craft stallholders and community events and it’s disgraceful. They make wonderful unique items but they don’t make a lot of money. Sometimes they don’t even cover the stall fee.

“I’ve already advised SBC we’ll be getting a petition up. Community events will be affected and it’s wrong.”

Stockton Council had nothing further to add to Cllr Stephenson’s response in the meeting.