William Eichler 21 July 2017

Girl, 5, fined for selling lemonade

A London council has fined a five-year-old girl for selling homemade lemonade on the street without a license.

The girl set up the stall with her father Andre Spicer, a professor of organisational behaviour at the Cass Business School at City University London, after a school fete last Saturday in the borough of Tower Hamlets.

After half an hour, the girl and Mr Spicer were approached by four local council enforcement officers who proceeded to accuse the two of ‘trading without a license.’

Upset, the girl reportedly asked her father: ‘Have I done a bad thing?’

The family was fined £150 — although one of the enforcement officers reassured them it would only be £90.

‘Rules and regulations are important,’ said Mr Spicer.

‘But so is space for council employees to use their good judgement.

‘There is a danger council austerity means council employees are forced to fine increasingly benign things just to balance the books.’

The council has since apologised and cancelled the fine.

A Tower Hamlets Council spokesperson said: ‘We are very sorry that this has happened.

‘We expect our enforcement officers to show common sense, and to use their powers sensibly. This clearly did not happen.   

‘The fine will be cancelled immediately and we have contacted Professor Spicer and his daughter to apologise.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Chief Executive

Leicestershire County Council
Up to £234,171
This is a rare opportunity to lead a council with both strength and ambition at a time of change. Leicestershire
Recuriter: Leicestershire County Council

Director of Adults and Integrated Commissioning

Kent County Council
up to £129,530 per annum
A career-defining role at the heart of adult social care transformation. Kent
Recuriter: Kent County Council

Part Time Finance Administrator

Essex County Council
Up to £25081.00 per annum + Pro Rata
Part Time Finance AdministratorPermanent, Part Time£25,081 per annum, full time equivalentLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Senior Customer Services Adviser (Housing Repairs

Mansfield District Council
£28,598 - £33,699 per annum
Mansfield is a town of towns at the centre of things in Nottinghamshire - a place of many strong connections Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
Recuriter: Mansfield District Council

No Wrong Door Deputy Manager

North Yorkshire Council
From £47,181 up to £51,356 per annum pro rata
We’re looking for a passionate, driven, and dynamic professional to join our management team within our innovative No Wrong Door (NWD) service. Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council
Linkedin Banner