Leeds - Late Night Levy

Following recent news reports that Leeds City Council are planning to introduce a Late Night Levy, we confirm that on Tuesday 23 July 2013 a meeting of the Licensing Committee was convened to consider the report of the Head of Licensing and Registration on the Late Night Levy. The recommendation at that meeting was for the matter is to go before the Executive Board on 4 September 2013 so that the design and consultation of the levy can be approved and that the consultation with affected parties may begin.

This was by no means a straightforward decision as has been reported in the press and the matter is only being recommended for consultation at this time.

If a formal consultation is approved this should be for a period of 12 weeks commencing in either October or November albeit with the Christmas period looming it may be a 14 week consultation which would expire in the New Year.

The introduction of a Levy will, if implemented as proposed, apply to all premises authorised to sell alcohol between 00.30 and 06.00 within the Leeds City Council area.

An exemption for small business rate relief has been proposed. This would affect premises whose business rates are below £12,000 and would involve providing a 30% reduction for premises who are in fee Band A (130 premises) and the smaller premises in Band B (in total 786 premises) if their rateable value is less than £12,000.

Further, there are a wide number of premises which licensing authorities have a discretionary power to exempt from the late night levy. It is thought that the following would apply in Leeds:

• premises with overnight accommodation;
• theatre and cinemas;
• bingo halls;
• community amateur sports clubs registered as such;
• community premises which already have the alternative condition applied meaning they do not have a DPS;
• country village pubs in designated rural settlements with a population of less than 3,000; and
• New Year’s Eve - premises authorised to sell alcohol in the late night supply period on New Years Day (following on from opening on New Year’s Eve).

If you have premises which will be affected by the Levy, we would strongly recommend you submit a representation when the consultation period opens. If you require advice or assistance in drafting or presenting your representation, please contact us.

We shall keep you informed on the progress of this consultation.