Northampton Borough Council 'could raise £160k' from late-night levy

19-Jun-2012 - Last updated on 11-Mar-2017 at 23:20 GMT

Late-night levy: Police could take £111,480 if measure introduced in Northampton

Another local council has been accused of “jumping the gun” on the late-night levy by claiming it could raise more than £160,000 by implementing the measure.

The levy is set to be introduced in October as part of the Police Reform & Social Responsibility Act. It will enable local authorities to collect money from pubs and clubs that open past midnight, with the money raised split be-tween police and councils.

In a report to the local licensing committee, Northampton Borough Council has outlined the town’s 178 businesses that would be af-fected by the levy, as well as the income generated.

The total amount the council expects to generate from the levy, if implemented, is £164,511, with £111,480 going to the police and £47,790 to the council. The remaining £5,340 would be deducted for administration costs. The report adds that the total amount levied would reduce to £75,503 if premises which serve alcohol up until 1am applied for a variation to midnight.

“They (Northampton Borough Council) are jumping the gun over the amount that they can charge,” said Jonathan Smith of licensing law firm Poppleston Allen. “They can’t really come up with a realistic figure when it hasn’t even been set by Westminster.”

Kate Nicholls, strategic affairs director at the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR), said: “Clearly it is right for all those involved in the late-night economy — operators, local authorities and other enforcement agencies — to begin thinking about future changes to the licensing regime and making any necessary plans, but to do so before the Government has confirmed what those powers will be risks raising unrealistic expectations.

"More importantly, it worries operators and unhelpfully undermines positive partnership relationships.”

Northamptonshire councillor John Caswell, cabinet member for environment, said the council’s licensing committee would be looking at the report’s proposals. “As and when there are changes in legislation, we will of course consult with the Town Centre BID, residents, the Police and others before making a decision on what is best for our town.”

Woking Borough Council came under fire earlier this year for issuing its own consultation on the levy, which it later withdrew.