Camden to re-consult on Late Night Levy

Camden Licensing Committee last night agreed to re-consult on their proposals for a Late Night Levy.

The previous consultation was deemed to have been ‘flawed’ – see our article 'Camden Council - Late Night Levy - Update: Consultation downgraded'. 

The consultation will be launched imminently (the chair of the Licensing Committee specifically requested that she sign off the consultation questions first) and will run for just 4 weeks.

Specifically the consultation will include the following elements:

• That the Levy should apply to all premises authorised for the sale of alcohol between 12.00mn and 6.00am.
• The only exemption would be for New Year’s Eve trading.
• Whether to grant a 30% reduction for premises participating in BIDs and the like and a similar reduction for premises in receipt of Small Business Rate Relief.
• No exemptions will be proposed for other categories of premises that might be exempt – and particularly including premises with overnight accommodation.

It is proposed that if eventually approved through the required council process, the Levy would be introduced with effect from late April 2016. Following the conclusion of the consultation, the matter (and the responses received) is due to be considered next by the Licensing Committee on 18 November 2015.

It is most important that operators who responded to the original consultation do so again, as previous responses are most unlikely to be ‘carried forward’.