Overview
- The council unanimously approved a motion to ask the government to remove barber shops, nail bars and beauty salons from Class E use provisions.
- Local MPs will be asked to press the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government on implementing these regulatory changes.
- Councillors are exploring a licensing scheme requiring DBS checks and visible licences for personal care workers to improve oversight and safety.
- They argue that the 2020 Class E reforms, introduced to aid pandemic recovery, have since diluted high street diversity and enabled criminal exploitation.
- Cllr David Taylor highlighted the Eston Precinct development as a prime opportunity to attract a broader mix of shops and services to the town centre.