Agenda item

Report of Functional Lead - Quality Environment.

The committee considered the report of the Senior Specialist Advisor regarding the second consultation carried out for the review of the Council’s Cumulative Impact Policy (CIP) and to address the issues raised at the previous meeting in October 2017.

The report further detailed number of premises trading when the CIP was implemented and to the present day, compared with the number of premises with licences attached as highlighted in table 1 of the report.  Members noted that there had been an overall increase within the Borough both of premises within the CIP and those outside the zone.

Rachel Barrows, Sussex Police, was in attendance to answer Members questions and provided the committee with the most up to date Crime and disorder data from Sussex Police when the CIP was implemented to the present day.  Ms Barrows advised that Sussex Police supported the retention of the Policy and the promotion of the Licensing objectives.  The committee was advised that Public Place Violent Crime had reduced year on year.  Members were also advised that the Police could make representations regardless of whether a CIP was in place or not.

The committee had requested a map of the CIP zone and premises located within and what type they were (restaurant, public houses, nightclubs etc.) At the time of going to print this was not available but a map showing extent of current CIP on page 8 of the report.

Annie Wills, Head of Tourism and Enterprise, attended the meeting as requested and advised the committee that with some 5 million visitors to Eastbourne each year it was important to provide as varied an offer to the public as possible.  She also stated that it was also important to reduce the number of street drinkers within the town.

Jay Virgo addressed the committee highlighting the reduction in the number of pubs and an increase in the number of cafes with alcohol licenses and therefore reducing ‘vertical’ drinking across the CIP. He continued that quantity was more important than quantity and that it may be time to relax the rules. Mr Virgo also highlighted three ‘hotspots’ within the town centre and suggested action by the authorities should be targeted in those areas.

The committee discussed various points including the net gain of premises since the policy was implemented, number of premises operating within the zone, current night time economy in the town and stressed the importance of encouraging new businesses to the area, particularly with the launch of ‘The Beacon’ in late 2018.   Members were advised that the Licensing Policy was due for a complete review in 2019 and that these issues could be reconsidered again at that time.

Councillor Smart requested further information regarding the licensing fees and the Functional Lead Quality Environment agreed to provide the details to the committee following the meeting.

A motion to remove the CIP proposed by Councillor Murdoch was lost by 3 votes to 5.

NB: Councillor Holt withdrew from the room whilst this item was considered.

RESOLVED: (By 5 votes to 2 with 3 abstentions) 1) That the current CIP be retained without amendment.

2) That Council be advised that the Licensing Act Committee wish to retain the current CIP without amendment.