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Street collection application form and guidance
Street collection permit application form
Collectors
Collectors must be authorised, in writing, by the permit holder. Collectors must be able to produce this permit for inspection by the council's Licensing Team or by a policeman.
Collectors may not receive payment for collecting and must be over 16 years of age. In addition, they must:
- remain stationary, standing on the pavement (provided one is available) at least 25 metres away from any other collector (except that collectors can work in pairs)
- ensure that they do not inconvenience or importune others in a way which annoys them
- be provided with a numbered and sealed collecting box which shows clearly the name of the charity or fund which is to benefit from the collection
- ensure that all money is put into the collecting box immediately it is received
- deliver the collecting box, unopened, to the permit holder at the end of the collection.
Counting the money
Every box must be opened and counted in the presence of the permit holder and another responsible person. Alternatively, they may be opened and counted by a bank official.
As soon as the money in a box has been counted, the number of the collection box and the total amount it contained must be recorded.
When all the money has been counted the permit holder must provide, within one month of the collection taking place:
- The completed return form provided with the collection permit which shows the total amount collected and any expenses or payments made. This form must be countersigned by a qualified accountant or another independent responsible person as auditor.
- A list of collectors showing the number of the collection box issued and the amount collected in each box.
- A copy of a bank paying in slip or a receipt which shows that the proceeds have been paid to the appropriate charity or fund.
- A copy of an article which has been published in a local newspaper showing the amount collected in aid of the charity concerned. Alternatively, the Council will accept a copy of a letter to the editor of a local newspaper requesting this information to be published.
Street collection regulations
In pursuance of section 5 of the Police, Factories etc. (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1916, as amended by section 251 and Schedule 29 to the Local Government Act 1972, the following regulations have been made with respect to the places where and the conditions under which persons may be permitted in any street or public place within East Suffolk district to collect money or sell articles for the benefit of charitable or other purposes
Definitions
1 - In these Regulations, unless the context requires otherwise
- “collection” means a collection of money or a sale of articles for the benefit of charitable or other purposes and the word “collector” shall be construed accordingly
- “promoter” means a person who causes others to act as collectors
- “permit” means a permit for a collection
- “contributor” means 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” means a box or other receptacle for the reception of money from contributors.
2 - No collection, other than a collection taken at a meeting in the open air, shall be made in any street or public place within East Suffolk unless a promoter shall have obtained a permit from East Suffolk Council.
3 - Application for a permit shall be made in writing not later than one month before the date on which it is proposed to make the collection. East Suffolk Council may reduce the period of one month if satisfied that there are special reasons for doing so.
4 - No collection shall be made except upon the day and between the hours stated in the permit.
5 - East Suffolk Council may, in granting a permit, limit the collection to such streets or public places or such parts thereof as it thinks fit.
6 - (i) No person may assist or take part in any collection without the written authority of a promoter.
(ii) Any person authorised under paragraph (i) above shall produce such written authority forthwith for inspection on being requested to do so by a duly authorised officer of the East Suffolk Council or any constable.
7 - No collection shall be made in any part of the carriageway of any street which has a footway. East Suffolk Council may, if it thinks fit, allow a collection to take place on the said carriageway where such collection has been authorised to be held in connection with a procession.
8 - No collection shall be made in a manner likely to inconvenience or annoy any person.
9 - No collector shall importune any person to the annoyance of such person.
10 - While collecting :- (a) a collector shall remain stationary and (b) a collector or two collectors together shall not be nearer to another collector than 25 metres. Provided that East Suffolk Council may, if it thinks fit, waive the requirements of this Regulation in respect of a collection which has been authorised to be held in connection with a procession.
11 - No Promoter, collector or person who is otherwise connected with a collection shall permit a person under the age of sixteen years to act as a collector.
12 - (i) Every collector shall carry a collecting box.
(ii) All collecting boxes shall be numbered consecutively and shall be securely closed and sealed in such a way to prevent them being opened without the seal being broken. (iii) All money received by a collector from contributions shall immediately be placed in a collecting box. (iv) Every collector shall deliver, unopened, all collecting boxes in his possession to a promoter.
13 - A collector shall not carry or use any collecting box, receptacle or tray which does not bear displayed prominently thereon the name of the charity or fund which is to benefit nor any collecting box which is not duly numbered.
14 - (i) Subject to paragraph (ii) below a collecting box shall be opened in the presence of a promoter and another responsible person.
(ii) Where a collecting box is delivered, unopened, to a bank, it may be opened by an official of the bank.
(iii) 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.
15 - (i) No payment shall be made to any collector.
(ii) No payment shall be made out of the proceeds of a collection, either directly or indirectly, to any person connected with the promotion or conduct of such collection for, or in respect of services connected therewith, except such payments as may have been approved by East Suffolk Council.
16 - (i) Within one month after the date of any collection the person to whom a permit has been granted shall forward to East Suffolk Council:
- a statement in the form set out in the Schedule to these Regulations, or in a from to the like effect, showing the amount received and the expenses and payments incurred in connection with such a collection, and certified by the person and either a qualified accountant or an independent, responsible person acceptable to East Suffolk Council.
- a list of the collectors
- a list of the amount contained in each collecting box; and shall if required by East Suffolk Council satisfy it as to the proper application of the proceeds of the collection.
(ii) The said person shall also, within the same period, at the expense of that person and after certification under paragraph (i) (a) above, publish in such newspaper or newspapers as the East Suffolk Council may direct, a statement showing the name of the person to whom the permit has been granted, the area to which the permit relates, the name of the charity or fund to benefit, the date of the collection, the amount collected and the amount of the expenses and payments incurred in connection with such collection. Alternatively, the council will accept a copy of a letter to the editor of a local newspaper requesting this information to be published.
(iii) East Suffolk Council may, if satisfied there are special reasons for so doing, extend the period of one month referred to in paragraph (i) above.
(iv) For the purposes of this Regulation “a qualified accountant” means a member of one or more of the following bodies:
- the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales
- the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland
- the Association of Certified Accountants
- the institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland.
17 - These regulations shall not apply:
- in respect of a collection taken at a meeting in the open air, or
- to the selling of articles in any street or public place when the articles are sold in the ordinary course of trade.
These regulations shall come into operation upon the expiration of the period of one month beginning with the date on which they are confirmed by the Secretary of State.