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| A new approach to licensing will be discussed by councillors this week, as Brighton & Hove City Council looks to boost the city’s vibrant night-time economy as well as putting an increased focus on safety in and around licensed venues.
The council’s Licensing Committee will meet at Hove Town Hall on Thursday 24 July, where they will be presented with a report outlining the latest version of its Statement of Licensing Policy.
As the local authority responsible for licensing premises, the council has a legal obligation to review and publish its Statement of Licensing every five years.
The current policy was amended in 2021, but the policy has remained somewhat similar since the last major change in 2011.
As part of a pre-consultation event, the council hosted its first ever licensing summit in January, attended by a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from venues, business owners and Sussex Police. Following this, the council opened up the conversation to the entire city with an online pre-consultation that lasted four weeks.
The feedback received has helped to shape the recommendations in the proposed update of the Statement of Licensing which will be presented to councillors next week.
The report includes a host of recommendations, including:
Brighton & Hove has seen a rise in the number of serious sexual assaults since 2021 and these measures look to tackle that and help support businesses to keep vulnerable people as safe as possible. The city also continues to experience problems with street drinking created by cheap alcohol and fierce, localised price competition, particularly between off-licence stores and supermarkets.
And it is that balance of helping support local businesses and the thriving sector with a firm commitment to public health which the recommendations look to strike.
Councillor David McGregor, Chair of the Licensing Committee, welcomed the report and looked forward to discussing it with the committee next week.
He said: “I’m immensely proud of the work that we’ve done in this new licensing policy. We’ve been able to strike a balance between creating a safe city and protecting the rich cultural assets that make our night-time economy the best in the entire country.
“I’ve gone out and discussed our policy with everyone that’ll listen, and the licensing team has taken on every bit of feedback to update our policy so it fits with what Brighton & Hove needs.
“We’ve been incredibly upfront about the challenges our city faces and the actions needed to address them. I want to thank everyone who’s taken part in our pre-consultation and welcome them to take part in the next stage if this proposal passes the committee.”
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