No person may carry on the business of a scrap metal dealer unless they are registered to do so by their Local Authority. Easington District Council is the local authority for the purpose of licensing.
As well as requiring to register, the Act requires records of dealings to be kept.
Records Required to be Kept
Every scrap metal dealer must keep, at each place occupied by him as a scrap metal store, a book detailing all scrap metal received at that place and all scrap metal either processed at or dispatched from that place. Two books may be kept where the metal processed and or dispatched from a place is not received at that place.
The details to be kept for scrap metal received are:
The details to be kept scrap metal processed or dispatched are:
Entries must be made immediately upon receipt, processing or despatch and books containing records must be kept for two years following the last entry.
Where a person satisfies the Council that the business is part of the business of an itinerant scrap metal collector, the Council after consulting with the Chief of Police may make an order requiring that on the sale of any scrap metal he shall obtain from the purchaser a receipt showing the weight of the metal and the aggregate price at which it was sold. These receipts must be kept for two years and must be produced on demand to any body authorised to require their production.
Where a scrap metal dealer does not occupy a scrap metal store and is not registered as an itinerant then the reference to keeping a book at a scrap metal store shall be construed as a reference to keeping a book either at the dealers usual place of residence or at any other place occupied for the purpose of the scrap metal business. The references to the receipt, processing or despatch of scrap metal at or from a place shall be construed as the receipt, processing or despatch of scrap metal during the course of business. Particulars must be entered in the book as soon as is practicable.
Where a dealer occupies a scrap metal store and is not registered as an itinerant and scrap metal is received and disposed of other than at registered premises then entries in the required books must be made as soon as is practicable at the business' nearest registered store.
Before registering any person as a scrap metal dealer the Council will require the following information:
For us to process your application you must:
We are legally obliged to:
We are obliged to disclose relevant information to other organisations when requested, such as:
Any constable has a right at any reasonable time to inspect registered premises, records kept on those premises and scrap metal kept on the premises.
The Council has powers of entry to ascertain if premises are being used as a scrap metal store.
Any person found guilty of failing to register a scrap metal business or to notify the local authority of alterations in the appropriate particulars shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding £1,000.
Any person found guilty of failing to notify a local authority that a business has ceased shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding £200.
Any person found guilty of failing to keep the proper prescribed records shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding £1,000.
Any person found guilty of acquiring scrap metal from a person under the age of 16 shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding £200.
Any person who obstructs the entry of an authorised inspector or fails to produce any book or document which the officer has a right to inspect shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding £200.
Where a person is convicted of failing to register or failing to keep records of dealings the Court may make an order imposing restrictions on the dealer for a period not exceeding two years.
A person is deemed to be carrying on a scrap metal business if:
a) a place in the area is occupied by him as a scrap metal store, or
b) no place is occupied by him as a scrap metal store in the Easington district area or elsewhere, but he has his usual place of residence in the Easington district area, or
c) no place is occupied by him as a scrap metal store in the Easington district area or elsewhere, but a place in the Easington district is occupied by him for the purposes of that business.
Name: Carol Ridley
Telephone: 0191 5270 501
email: carol.ridley@easington.gov.uk |
Address: District of Easington, Council Offices, Seaside Lane, Easington, County Durham, SR8 3TN
Fax: 0191 527 4708