Pressure group Common Sense Alliance launches campaign against late-night levy
The Common Sense Alliance, which is headed by Peter Sheridan, former assistant chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, is urging people to write to their MP objecting about the measure, which would see an extra charge levied on pub and bar operators that trade during designated periods between midnight and 6am.
The Alliance said: “The rationale for the levy includes that it will help local authorities generate extra finances to combat town centre disorder. However, businesses are already paying business rates that cover this, so why create another tax? We question whether this money will actually be reinvested in a way that will help to tackle the root causes of town centre disorder.”
The group added: “Some argue the late-night levy would penalise the majority of night time operators instead of the irresponsible few. What is worse is that at this stage there is no real understanding as to how these funds will be used.
“We know the police will receive at least 70% of the net levy revenue while the licensing authority can retain up to 30% but the distribution of those funds will be left to individual local and police authorities. We ask whether there will be a guarantee that the money raised will be ring fenced into initiatives that have been proven to lower town centre disorder.
“We do know of one authority that is working with the trade through the establishment of a business improvement district (BID). Surely a precursor to any levy could be a thorough analysis of whether schemes like Best Bar None or BIDs are not more appropriate?”
Other members of the group include Nash Gooderham, chief executive of Live Management Group and live music veteran who operates Warehouse and China Red Clubs in Birmingham; Denzil Vallance, chief executive of Yorkshire-based Great Heck Brewery; and Paul Jones, a publican and owner of wholesale distributor LS West Midlands.
Other Common Sense Alliance members include Roy Ramm, former commander of specialist operations at New Scotland Yard; business consultant and JP Kami Kundi; Dr Jules Goddard, a fellow of the London Business School; and Rory Sutherland, former president of the Institute of Practitioners In Advertising.
A recent survey of 363 councils in England and Wales by solicitors John Gaunt found that around 1% do plan to introduce a late-night levy, while 78% did not intend to introduce it.
