Charitable appeal licence

Street Collections are usually made by Charities. Collections usually take place in a town centre on busy shopping days. Money is collected in tins. There are regulations, which govern this type of collection. Consents are restricted to enable charities to raise money without their collections clashing with those of other charities.

The purpose of the legal requirement to obtain consent is to ensure collectors are properly authorised and that money is collected in a secure way and the total proceeds collected are properly accounted for.

Regulation summary

It is often assumed that collections can be held in shop doorways or car parks do not need and Street Collection Licence because they are being held on 'privately owned land'. This is not true, as the legislation does not mention the ownership of the land or treat collections on 'privately owned land' as exempt from the licensing regulations. A shop doorway or car park, when that shop is open for trading, is a 'public place' because the public has access at that time. No other licence would be valid. A Pedlars Licence, issued by the Police cannot be used for this purpose. Only Local Authorities issue Street Collection Licences under Section 5 of the Police, Factories, etc. (Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1916, as amended by the Local Government Act 1972 and Schedule 29 of that Act.

A return form must be completed following the collection and returned to the Council. This form will be sent to you once your application form has been received.

Eligibility criteria

• Has the charity, organisation, fund or individual to benefit been refused a House to House Collections Licence or a Street Collection Permit, or had such Licence/permit revoked?
• Have you or anyone associated with the appeal been convicted by a Court for any offence which is not spent under the terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974?
• Have you, or to the best of your knowledge, anyone associated with the promotion of the appeal, been refused a House to House Collections Licence or a Street Collection Permit, or had such licence/permit revoked?

How to apply

You can now apply for your licence online

• apply for your Street Collection permit online

Receipt of application notification:

If making an application online you will receive an e-mail notification that your application is being processed.

If an application is sent into our Licensing department you will receive a letter notifying you that the application is being processed within 7 working days

If you hand an application form into our reception office you will receive a letter notifying you that the application is being processed within 7 working days

Timescales

We require 28 days notice ahead of the collection.

Appeal process

Please contact your Local Authority in the first instance.

Any applicant who is refused a licence can appeal to their local Magistrates' court.

Complaints / objections

If you have a complaint either about a licence application or regarding our procedures please contact the Licensing Team on 01443 425001 and ask for a Licensing Officer.

Public registers

To gain access to the public register please contact the Licensing Team on 01443 425001 to make an appointment to view the register at our offices. Alternatively please send an email detailing your request to Licensing.Section@rhondda-cynon-taff.gov.uk.

Further information

For further information please contact the Licensing Team using the details below: