Cumulative Impact Policy and the Late Night Levy - changes afoot?

The Government have tabled proposed changes to the Policing and Crime Bill which impact further on licensing, particularly in terms of Cumulative Impact Policies and the Late Night Levy, if adopted.

These include:

• Putting the possible adoption of Cumulative Impact Policies on a statutory footing; at the moment, it derives only as a concept from the statutory guidance to the Licensing Act 2003 – and where adopted, requiring periodic review and re-assessment of the need for such
• Allowing Licensing Authorities to adopt a Late Night Levy on part but not the whole of their area (although it must be said that this will only serve possibly to reduce the commercial attractiveness of such in terms of revenue raised)
• Allowing Licensing Authorities to impose a Late Night Levy on late night refreshment outlets if they sell food

These changes will be debated in Parliament as the Bill continues its progress towards enactment.