Late Night Levy – Gloucester - update

Further to our report in March of this year, Gloucester continues to move towards the adoption of a Late Night Levy. The council have decided to continue with their consultation with a view to making a decision in January 2017.  If at that time the decision is to adopt the levy it will not be implemented until May 2017.

From comments made to the local press agencies it is clear that the Council are seeking to raise funds - Councilor Jennie Dallimore, deputy leader of Gloucester City Council told the meeting at which the decision was taken: "A lot has been happening around the night time economy in terms of safety and improving what we have to offer in Gloucester. But we're in challenging economic times. There has to be a question brought back on how we continue to fund things”. “If all eligible businesses paid the fees the council is proposing, it would generate almost £155,000 a year.”

However, the councillors at the meeting also indicated that plans are also in place to bring a BID to Gloucester, which could replace the levy. It may be - as we saw in Cheltenham - that the levy (if adopted) comes and goes quite quickly.