A street collection permit covers a collection of money or sale of articles for the benefit of charitable purposes, on the streets of Cambridge.
We issue permits for street collections on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Applications for a permit must be made in writing not later than one month before the proposed date for collection.
We may reduce the period of one month if satisfied that there are special reasons for doing so.
If
your organisation has permission to collect on private property, ie The Grafton centre or Lion Yard then you must include
your letter of permission when you submit your
application form.
Regulations
No collection can be made in any street or public place within Cambridge unless the promoter has obtained a permit from us.
If collectors do not have a permit, they will be committing a criminal offence.
No collection shall be made except on the day and between the hours stated on the permit.
We may, in granting a permit, limit the collection to streets or public places such as we think fit.
No collection shall be made in any part of the carriageway or any street which has a footway. However, we may allow a collection to take place on a carriageway where it has been authorised in connection with a procession.
No collection should cause annoyance to any person.
These regulations do not apply:
- in respect of a collection taken at a meeting in the open air
- to the selling of articles in any street or public place where the articles are sold in the ordinary course of trade.
Collectors
No person may assist or take part in any collection without the written authority of a promoter.
Any person authorised by the promoter must immediately produce the written authority for inspection if requested to do so by an authorised officer of the council or any constable.
No payment shall be made to any collector.
All promoters, collectors and people connected with a collection must be over the age of sixteen.
While collecting:
- a collector shall remain stationary
- a collector or two collections together must be 25 metres apart unless we have waived the requirements of this regulation because a collection has been authorised in connection with a procession
- every collector shall carry a collecting box
- all money received by a collector from contributions must immediately be placed in a collecting box.
Collecting boxes
A collector shall not carry or use any
collecting box, receptacle or tray which does not bear displayed prominently the name of the charity or fund which is to benefit
and the number of
the box.
All collecting boxes must be numbered consecutively and must be securely closed and sealed to prevent them being opened or tampered with without the seals being broken.
Every collector shall deliver, unopened, all collecting boxes in his possession to a promoter.
After the collection
All collection boxes must be opened in the presence of a promoter and another responsible person or where a collecting box is delivered, unopened, to a bank, it may be opened by an official of the bank.
As soon as a collecting box has been opened, the person opening it shall count the contents and shall enter the amount with the number of the collecting box on a list which shall be certified by that person.
Proceeds of the collection
No payment shall be made out of the proceeds of any collection, either
directly or indirectly, to any other person connected with the promotion or conduct of the collection
for, or in respect
of, services connected therewith.
Returns form
What we need
Within one month after the date of any collection the person to whom the permit has been granted must forward to us
- a statement of returns as provided by us, showing the amount received and the expenses and payments incurred in connection with the collection - this form must be certified by the promoter and a qualified accountant
- a list of the collectors
- a list of the amounts contained in each collecting box
The promoter must be able to provide evidence to satisfy us as to the proper application of the proceeds of the collection.
Published statement
The promoter must also, within one month (after a qualified accountant has given his certificate as discussed above) publish in such newspaper or newspapers as we may direct, a statement showing the:
- name of the person to whom the permit has been granted
- areas to which the permit relates
- name of the charity or fund to benefit
- date of the collection
- amount collected
- amount of expenses and payments incurred in connection with the collection.
We are able waive the requirement detailed above if we are satisfied that proceeds from the collection do not exceed £100.
Some requirements may be waived
If the total proceeds from a collection do not exceed £100 we may waive the requirement above that the statement of accounts must be certified by a qualified accountant.
Instead it will be required that a statement of accounts shall be accompanied by a certificate signed by a reputable and responsible person not connected in any way with the collection or its proceeds.
This waiver is only given provided that we may, having examined the statement of accounts, require that the statement must also be certified by a qualified accountant.
The time period may be extended
We may, if satisfied there are special reasons for so doing, extend the period of one month referred to above.
Definitions
A qualified accountant
For the purpose of these regulations "qualified accountant" means a member of one or more of the following bodies:
- The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
- The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland
- The Association of Certified Accountants
- The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland
Any person who acts in contravention of any of the foregoing regulations shall be liable to criminal conviction.
Collections
A
collection of money or a sale of articles for the benefit of
charitable or other purposes and the word "collector"
is used accordingly.
Promoter
A person who causes others to act as collectors.
Licensing authority
Cambridge City Council.
Contributor
A person who contributes to a collection and includes a
purchaser of
articles for sale for the benefit of charitable or other purposes.
Collecting box
A box or other receptacle
for the reception of money from
contributors.
Apply
To apply for a street collections permit please download
and complete the application form.
Please return the completed form to:
Cambridge City Council
Licensing Administration
The Guildhall
Market
Square
Cambridge CB2 3QJ