Council to re-consult on late night levy to focus on the Town Centre and capture late night refreshment premises

Following Licensing and Environmental Regulation Committee approval of a recommendation last week, Bolton Council are set to start another consultation on introducing the late night levy after the initial six-week consultation given changes to the proposed scheme.

As you may recall initially the Council was seeking to impose the levy on those with a licence to sell alcohol between the hours of 3am and 6am across the whole borough of Bolton, and the consultation took place on this basis.

Since then, changes to the legislation affecting the late night levy have come into effect which allow more flexibility as to use of levy powers such as the ability to localise to certain areas and to include late night refreshment premises that serve hot food within the scope of the levy. In view of these changes and discussions with stakeholders the recommendation is to now localise the proposed levy to focus on the Town Centre area and capture late night refreshment premises that serve hot food as well as those selling alcohol within the revised area between the hours of 3am and 6am.

The report to the Committee recommended that the authority start another six-week consultation with a view to introducing the levy on this basis,. This recommendation was approved by the Committee, and we understand the Council are hoping to commence this consultation by mid-December.

Unless stated otherwise within the updated consultation document, presumably the Council proposal to exempt the previously stated permitted categories of premises from paying the levy will remain the same and that no other exemptions or reductions would apply.

I shall provide further details as to the proposal once the consultation commences. For further information, please feel free to contact associate solicitor, Suraj Desor or contact any of our licensing solicitors.