Scrap metal licence
On 31 October 2016, the London Borough of Bexley joined the Licensing Partnership to process and issue licensing applications for Bexley Council.
The Licensing Partnership is a partnership of local authorities comprising Maidstone Borough Council, Sevenoaks District Council and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.
Central administration for the Licensing Partnership is based at Sevenoaks, with Licensing Officers located at each local authority. The team at Sevenoaks will input applications, process payments (except continuation fees), deal with administrative queries and issue licences.
Anyone wishing to carry on a business as a scrap metal dealer requires a licence.
A person carries on a business as a scrap metal dealer if they:
- carries on a business which consists wholly or partly in buying or selling scrap metal, whether or not the metal is sold in the form in which it was bought, or
- carries on a business as a motor salvage operator
Scrap metal includes:
- any old, waste or discarded metal or metallic material, and
- any product, article or assembly which is made from or contains metal and is broken, worn out or regarded by its last holder as having reached the end of its useful life
It does not include:
- gold, silver and any alloy of which 2% or more by weight is attributable to gold or silver
There are two types of licences:
Site Licence - This is where the scrap metal business is operated from one or more sites in the local authority area. The licence allows the licensee to buy and sell scrap metal and to transport scrap metal to and from those sites from any local authority area.
Collector's Licence - This is where the scrap metal operator collects scrap metal in the local authority area. A separate licence must be obtained from each council the collector wishes to operate in.
A scrap metal dealer is only permitted to hold one type of licence in any one local authority area.
A scrap metal dealer must not receive scrap metal from a person without verifying that person's full name and address and must not pay cash for any scrap metal he purchases. The scrap metal dealer must keep copies of any documents used to verify the identity of the seller.
The dealer is required to record specific information regarding the sale or purchase of any scrap metal.
Fees and charges
Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013.
Site licence:
- site licence - three year £700
- site renewal £568
- variation (change of licence type) £131
- variation (other than a change of licence type) £44
- duplicate licence £21
- general admin charge - for work on applications which cannot be resolved/made valid (to be deducted from any refund of application fee - where this exceeds the application fee then no refund shall be given) £46
Collectors licence:
- collectors licence - three year £355
- collectors renewal £224
- variation (change of licence type) £386
- variation (other than a change of licence type) £44
- duplicate licence £21
- general admin charge - for work on applications which cannot be resolved/made valid (to be deducted from any refund of application fee - where this exceeds the application fee then no refund shall be given) £46
HMRC tax checks
Renewing a licence
From 4 April 2022, you will need to complete a tax check with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) when you renew your site or collectors licence to deal in scrap metal.
When you have completed the tax check, you will receive a code. You must give this code to the Licensing Partnership. The Licensing Partnership cannot proceed with your application until the tax check is completed and they have received the code.
The Licensing Partnership will only receive confirmation from HMRC that you have completed the tax check, they will not have access to information about your tax affairs.
Applying for a new licence?
If you are applying for a new licence, you will not need to complete the tax check. However, the Licensing Partnership will ask you to read HMRC guidance on what you need to do to be properly registered for tax in the future and you’ll need to confirm in writing that you have done this.
Need extra support from HMRC?
You can get help from HMRC if you need extra support, for example, if you need information in a different format or need help filling in the tax forms.
Eligibility
An application for a site or collector's licence can be made by an individual, company or partnership and must be submitted on the relevant council application form. The applicant and any directors, partners and, in the case of a site licence any persons nominated as site managers, are required to disclose any convictions for any relevant offences.
The Council requests that a basic disclosure of convictions form, which should be issued no earlier than three calendar months of the licence application being submitted to the licensing authority, be submitted for each person named on the application form. A Basic Disclosure Certificate can be applied for on-line via the Disclosure Scotland website. If a disclosure certificate is not submitted with the application form this will result in the application being delayed or rejected.
Regulation Summary
See the summary of regulation relating to this licence for further information.
Application evaluation process
Applications must be submitted on the forms provided by the licensing authority and be accompanied by the required fee. Please see the schedule of fees for further information. The following criteria, amongst others, will be considered when the application is being evaluated:
- whether the applicant and in the case of a company or partnership, whether the directors of the company, the company secretary or each of the partners (whichever the case may be) is a suitable person to carry on a business as a scrap metal dealer
- whether the applicant or any site manager has been convicted of any relevant offence
- whether the applicant or any site manager has been the subject of any relevant enforcement action
- any previous refusal of an application for the issue or renewal of a scrap metal licence (and the reasons for refusal)
- any previous refusal of an application for a relevant environmental permit or registration (and the reasons for refusal)
- any previous revocation of a scrap metal licence (and the reasons for revocation)
- whether the applicant has demonstrated that there will be in place adequate procedures to ensure that the provisions of the Act are complied with
Licensing officers will arrange to visit the applicant's business premises prior to any licence being granted.
A licence will be valid for three years from the date of issue and, in the case of a site licence, a copy of the licence must be displayed at each site identified in the licence in a prominent position accessible to the public. In the case of a collector's licence, a copy of the licence must be displayed on any vehicle that is used in the course of the dealer's business.
Will tacit consent apply?
No. It is in the public interest that the authority must process your application and consult with relevant authorities before it can be granted. If you have not heard from the licensing authority within a reasonable period, please contact the Licensing Partnership.
Apply
To make an application:
Apply for a scrap metal licence
Licensing Partnership
P.O. Box 182
Sevenoaks
Kent
TN13 1GP
Or email licensing@sevenoaks.gov.uk
Failed application redress
If an application for a licence is refused the applicant can appeal to local Magistrates Court within 21 days of notice of the decision.
Licence holder redress
Any licence holder who wishes to appeal against a condition attached to their licence or revocation of the licence can appeal to local Magistrates Court within 21 days of notice of the decision to attach the condition or revoke the licence, whichever the case may be.