Nottingham set to go ahead with late-night levy

Nottingham’s police officers have recommended the authority introduces a fee for licensed premises operating between midnight and 6am, and the licensing committee are set to discuss the option at a meeting on Monday (23 June). If a levy is recommended, it will then have to be approved at a full Council meeting on 14 July, with a view for implementation in October 2014.

A survey of 99 local people and businesses, conducted by the council during the consultation, shows that 21% of respondents think crime and disorder linked to late-night alcohol sales is a “big problem” and 50% say it is a “slight problem” but 74% disagree with the idea that Nottingham should introduce a fee for licensed premises.

The authority said 64 responses were from individuals, with 26 on behalf of businesses and the rest on behalf of public sector and voluntary organisations.

'Likely'​

However, a spokesman for Nottingham City Council told the Publican’s Morning Advertiser​ “the likelihood is a levy will be approved”.

“Officers are recommending a levy, so I would be very surprised if it wasn’t introduced,” he said.

He acknowledged that the majority of responses to the consultation, which ran from 13 January to 6 April this year, were “negative” in regards to a fee, but said the “caveat” is most of the responses were from the licensed trade.

He added: “We manage our popular night-time economy very successfully but this comes at a cost to the public purse and a late night levy would see licensed premises contribute towards doing even more to ensure that everyone can enjoy a safe and incident-free night out.

“Our consultation was not only to gauge support for the levy but to understand a range of issues such as how and when it should be applied and who should be liable.

“One example of where we have taken action in response to the consultation is the proposal to exempt BID members from paying the levy, now that there are strengthened arrangements in place for BID-funded safety initiatives.”

'Damaging'​

British Beer & Pub Association chief executive Brigid Simmonds said: “I hope local councillors step back from these plans, which would do damage to the whole city’s economy, and not just the city centre. It would undermine all local partnerships between the police, the local council, and Nottingham businesses."

She added: “If the levy goes ahead, it would be hugely disappointing, after all the great work being done throughout Nottingham, including its Business Improvement District, for several years.

“The prospect of a costly new tax for local businesses seriously undermines the progress made in developing voluntary local partnerships, and it will always be more difficult to get existing business on board, and attract new businesses to the area, if they feel new taxes are on the horizon.

“Several other authorities with important night-time economies, such as Leeds and Bristol, have looked at the evidence and decided this is not the best way forward. There is still time for Nottingham city councillors to do the same.”