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If you want to collect money or sell articles in any street or public place within Portsmouth, for the benefit of charitable or other purposes then you must hold a street collection permit issued to you by Portsmouth City Council under the Street Collections Regulations. It is an offence for any person to collect money or sell articles without the benefit of a permit and/or to breach the adopted regulations.

Zoe Gofton
023 9268 8367
licensing@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
 

Within one month after the collection you will be required to forward a statement detailing the list of collectors, the amount collected and the expenses and payments incurred.

Eligibility criteria

The collections must be for a charitable purpose.

Regulation summary

The power to regulate street collections and issue licences is contained in the Police, Factories, & c. (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1916 (c.31) and the following Council regulations ‘Street Collection Regulations’

Application evaluation process

You will need to submit a Street Collection Application Form at least one month before the proposed collecting date(s) specified in your application.

In Portsmouth you are not permitted (unless in exceptional circumstances and with the agreement of the Seafront and Events Manager) to collect on the seafront promenade or beach areas.  For clarification purposes this restriction extends east to west as follows:

From Southsea Esplanade at its junction with Henderson Road, towards South Parade and then ending at Clarence Parade and Long Curtain Road.  Additionally, the restriction also extends from Speakers Corner to the west of the Blue Reef Aquarium surrounding the perimeter of Southsea Castle (Castle Esplanade).

Preference is given, as far as possible, to applications which are local in nature and any short notice applications received for the benefit of a national emergency.

We reserve the right to make more detailed enquiries about your application in certain circumstances.  This could include requesting that the applicant or any other person connected with the organisation submits a police check at our request.

Please be aware special arrangements exist in December for undertaking street collections in the precinct areas located in Commercial Road, Palmerston Road and Cosham High Street. Please contact Rebecca Coghlan on 023 9284 1068 or email citycentre@portsmouthcc.gov.uk for any proposed collections in these areas during December.

Will tacit consent apply?

Yes. This means that you will be able to act as though your application is granted if you have not heard from the local authority by the end of the target completion period of a maximum of 42 days.

Application

You may apply by downloading the form below and sending together with the supporting documentation by email to licensing@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or post to:

Portsmouth City Council
Licensing Office
Civic Offices
Guildhall Square
Portsmouth
Hants
PO1 2AL

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Application for a street collection

Returns form

Failed application redress

Please contact PCC in the first instance:
Tel: 023 9283 4572 email: licensing@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

There is no statutory right of appeal if you are refused a licence but you may appeal to the High Court for a review of the decision.

Licence holder redress

Please contact PCC in the first instance:
Tel: 023 9283 4572 email: licensing@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Consumer complaint

We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made with the trader by you – preferably in the form a letter (with proof of delivery).

If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK, Adviceguide (external link) will give you advice. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre (external link).

Please contact the Local Authority:
Tel: 023 9283 4572 email: licensing@portsmouthcc.gov.uk