Agenda and draft minutes

(Report of the Director of Place and Sustainability). The report seeks approval for the Council enter into a Site Management Agreement with the Public Fundraising Regulatory Association for the areas identified in the report.

The Cabinet Member for Environment considered a report which sought approval for the Council to enter into a Site Management Agreement (SMA) with the Public Fundraising Regulatory Association (PFRA). The SMA would seek to regulate face to face charity fundraisers collecting direct debit information in the main shopping areas in the borough, including determining locations and times that fundraising can take place. Mechanisms would be put in place to allow the Council to identify any contraventions of the SMA directly to the PFRA for action through a designated contact.

In response to a question, confirmation was provided that although the SMA would initially cover Crouch End, Highgate, Muswell Hill and Wood Green shopping areas, the potential existed to extend the Agreement in the future to cover additional areas in the borough as necessary.

RESOLVED

·        That Haringey Council enters into a Site Management Agreement with the Public Fundraising Regulatory Association for the areas identified in the report.

Alternative options considered

Not to enter into a Site Management Agreement.

Reasons for Decision

Complaints had been received from residents regarding the actions of direct debit face to face charity collectors in town centres in the borough, including the hostile and at times relentless attempts to engage passers by, and the potential for this to deter people from shopping in the area. Entering into a SMA with the PFRA would facilitate face to face fundraising in a given location with the full agreement of the Council and ensure it is practiced in a controlled way.