Agenda item - Review of Statement of Licensing Policy - for consultation

Report of the Director of Public Health (copy attached)

8.1         The Senior Environmental Health Officer introduced the report which detailed a review of the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy and the proposal to put it out to public consultation, taking into account the recommendations of the Scrutiny Panel on Alcohol.

8.2         Councillor Moonan queried whether there was an opportunity to extend the cumulative impact zone to areas in Hove, i.e. Brunswick & Adelaide, Central Hove and Goldsmid.

8.3         The Senior Environmental Health Officer stated that currently the figures showed that applications for licenses to sell alcohol were table or reducing outside of the Cumulative Impact Zone and therefore there was no evidence base to widen the zone.

8.4         Councillor Simson noted that the matrix referred to by the Licensing Panels was an important aspect in their decision-making; however she was concerned about its impact for residential areas and on restaurants in Stress Areas; e.g. with earlier opening hours being requested rather than later.  She felt that it would be interesting to consider this when reviewing the information from the consultation exercise.

8.5         Councillor Wares noted that a legal challenge was being made in Europe by Brewers in regard to being sensible on strength and queried whether there was any flexibility in relation the voluntary scheme that was in place in the city, should the challenge be successful.

8.6         The Head of Regulatory Services stated that he was aware of the issue and had had a number of visits from various interested organisations.  He noted that competition law was complicated and that the Home Office had also visited to see the approach taken in the city and had offered some advice about the council’s position.  However, at present there was no change anticipated, although the council was open to discuss views and listen to concerns of interested parties.

8.7         The Licensing & Health Manager noted that it was intended to use various means for the consultation and that as it would need to run for a period of 12 weeks, it was likely to be undertaken in the autumn and a report brought back to the March committee meeting.

8.8         RESOLVED: That the Statement of Licensing Policy (SoLP) as set out in Appendix A to the report be released for statutory and public consultation, incorporating the recommendations of the Scrutiny Panel on Alcohol, and emerging policy issues such as Sensible on Strength and off licences; and advice from the Director of Public Health, Public Health England and the Local Government Association.