Issue - meetings
Public consultation on the Cumulative Impact Policies
Meeting: 18/03/2021 - Licensing Committee (Item 3)
3 Public consultation on the Cumulative Impact Policies PDF 477 KB
Additional documents:
- CIZ.Appendix1.MapA-D.BL, item 3 PDF 3 MB
- CIZ.Appendix2.Figs1-3.Comps.Ward.2020, item 3 PDF 129 KB
- CIZ.Appendix3.MapA-D.BG, item 3 PDF 3 MB
- CIZ.Appendix4.Image..Web.LetsTalk.Con.2021, item 3 PDF 574 KB
- Webcast for Public consultation on the Cumulative Impact Policies
Minutes:
Mr Tom Lewis, Team Leader, Licensing, introduced the report and explained that the Council must review its Cumulative Impact Assessment Policies every 3 years. As part of the review the Council must carry out statutory consultation in the same way as specified for reviewing the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy.
It was noted that the Brick Lane Cumulative Impact Area had been in place for 7 years and the Bethnal Green Cumulative Impact Area for 2 years. It was noted that the consultation process commenced on 28th January 2021 and would end on 22nd April 2021. The options in the consultation were to;
· Retain both CIAs (Cumulative Impact Assessments)
· Retain the CIA for Brick Lane and remove the CIA for Bethnal Green
· Remove both CIAs
It was noted that the Cumulative Impact Policy (CIP) was reviewed and updated to make the policy clearer and easier to understand. The policy made it clear that any application made within the CIA area would need for the applicant to demonstrate in the application why the granting of their application would not negatively add to the cumulative already experienced within the CIA zones. The policy clarified that the CIA areas did not create a stop of granting licences within the zones, but was very clear that where valid representations were received the onus was solely on the applicant to adequately rebut the presumption.
Mr Lewis then referred Members to the appendices to the report and highlighted the complaints received by the Licensing Team for each ward and the hotspot areas in the CIA zones. It was confirmed that Spitalfields and Banglatown ward and Weavers ward, which were the main wards that the Brick Lane CIA falls within, remains consistently one of the highest wards for complaints received by the Licensing Team. This was also the same for the Bethnal Green CIA area.
In response to questions the following was noted;
- There had been 60-70 responses received as part of the consultation so far.
- That all contested applications would still continue to come before the Licensing Sub Committee for consideration.
- That only one appeal had been lost in the CIA area over the past three years.
- That the onus was on the applicant to demonstrate how they would not negatively impact on the CIA area, by providing a more detailed application.
- That pavement licences were separate to a premises licence, which would be assessed individually and the Noise Team assess and visit the area before a decision is made.
- There was no way to temporary remove the CIA areas to help businesses during this economic climate.
- That approximately 10-15 shadow licences have been applied for by landlords when premises have closed down during the pandemic in order to retain premises licence.
The Committee AGREED that the report to Council include information on the number of businesses that had closed due to the pandemic in comparison to the numbers that have opened since the pandemic, particularly in ... view the full minutes text for item 3