FEARS that local shops are being undercut by an increasing number of street traders will be examined by a council committee next week.

There are a growing number of traders selling goods like food, clothes and even sofas from vans across the district, a new council report reveals.

Councillors fear that street traders, which don't have to pay overheads and business rates, are harming trade in local shops.

Next week, a council scrutiny committee will meet to discuss the issue and decide whether it thinks the authority should impose any new restrictions on street trading.

The problem was first raised at a meeting of the full council back in March.

Then, the council passed a motion calling for the scrutiny committee to examine the problem.

It recognised the contribution street traders made to the local economy, saying: "This Council notes that the rise in street trading is a means for hard working people to make a living in these difficult times."

But the motion said that in many cases, street traders were harming local shopkeepers because they were "able to undercut" them.

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It said: "In the current climate where businesses are struggling to survive, the increasing arrival of street traders is threatening businesses with closure and inability to pay business rates and employ staff."

Local authorities can ban street trading in certain areas, require traders to have a licence or require them to get the Council's permission before trading.

Currently, there are various restrictions on street trading in the centres of Bradford, Shipley, Bingley, Keighley, Haworth and Ilkley, as well as the Midland Road area of Bradford and Victoria Road in Saltaire.

But next week, the Council's environment and waste overview and scrutiny committee will meet to discuss whether these measures go far enough.

However, a report drawn up by officers recommends that no further action be taken, saying any further restrictions would have to be "considered reasonable and be supported by relevant evidence".

Yesterday, Val Summerscales, secretary of the Bradford and District Chamber of Trade, said the right balance had to be struck.

She said: "If it is causing a problem to legitimate traders, we would expect the council to have legislation to deal with it."

But Mrs Summerscales said any extra restrictions would have to be considered carefully, to avoid unintended consequences.

She said they would not want to restrict large food markets and Christmas markets, for instance, which could be good for shopkeepers because they attracted the crowds.

She said: "It's a balance that we need to be aware of."

The environment and waste overview and scrutiny committee meets at City Hall at 5.30pm on Tuesday, October 6.