3. 2. Business Statement and Announcement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:28 pm on 11 July 2017.

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Photo of Mohammad Asghar Mohammad Asghar Conservative 2:28, 11 July 2017

Cabinet Secretary, just following on from Joyce Watson, can we ask for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government on the procedure followed by local authorities regarding the issuing of certificates of lawful use or development in their areas? A constituent of mine, who has been running a family business for over 30 years in the same area in Newport, applied to Newport City Council for a certificate of lawfulness of existing use for the same business and paid £380, whereas the initial payment is only £190. After meeting the official and getting scrutiny of the application, he had to pay extra on the £190 to get his application put into the council. After two months, due to a small error in the application, he was refused on the grounds that he could not get approved for lawful use because he did not provide the minimum period required—for 10 years in the same area in the same business. But, as I said earlier, he’s been running the business for 30 years, and the rates department is only next to the licensing department—and he paid £380. The answer he got last week is, if he has to get this licence again, he’s got to pay to reapply again and pay £380 again. Could we ask for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary on what guidance the Welsh Government has issued to local authorities in Wales to ensure common sense prevails over bureaucracy in such situations? Thank you.