Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member Development and Safety

The Cabinet Member Development and Safety introduced the report and stated that the Late Night Levy was introduced in April 2014 as a means of raising a contribution towards the costs of policing the late night economy.  He reported that since that time it had raised over £250 000 with projects and work funded by the levy including taxi marshalls, free first aid training for licence holders and obtaining Purple Flag accreditation for the town.  In August 2016 Cheltenham adopted its first Business Improvement District (BID) that also imposed a levy on relevant businesses. The significant majority of licensed premises paying the levy were also subject to the BID levy which meant they were disproportionately affected. It was recognised that there were anomalies with the LNL and he gave hoteliers as an example as they only sold alcohol to patrons.

The Leader stated that using the BID was the appropriate way to take the issue forward and a positive point was that the funds from the LNL would be available for another year. He referred to the Purple Flag accreditation which had reflected the success of the LNL. He reported that three responses had been received to the consultation on whether the levy should cease to apply of which all were in support of the proposal.  He paid tribute to the effective joint working between the Police and CBC on mutually agreeing priorities for allocating the levy.

RESOLVED THAT

1.    The consultation feedback be noted.

2.    Pursuant to section 133 (1) of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 the Late Night Levy cease to apply in Cheltenham effective 31 March 2017

3.    Subject to resolution 2, authority be delegated to the Director of Environment, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Development and Safety, to do all things necessary to implement the decision.