Issue - meetings

Report number:     CAB/WS/21/041

Portfolio holder: Councillor Andy Drummond

Lead officer: Jen Eves

Resolved:

That:

1.           The Cumulative Impact Assessment in Newmarket at its current boundaries, be retained.

2.           The review period be two years, rather than the usual three years.

(Report number CAB/WS/21/041)

The Cabinet considered this report as part of its policy on premises licensing, West Suffolk Council had a Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) in Newmarket. The current CIA, applying to the centre of Newmarket, was designated in 2008 and re-adopted in 2011, 2016 and 2018.  This expired at the end of 2021 and consultation had been undertaken to enable a decision to be made as to whether this should continue to be supported.

Councillor Andy Drummond, Portfolio Holder for Regulatory and Environment, drew relevant issues to the attention of the Cabinet and explained the evidence and data to support the proposed decision to retain the Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) in Newmarket in its current boundaries. This evidence was based upon feedback received from public consultation and stakeholders, as well as data from the Suffolk Constabulary and the Ambulance Service.

In reviewing the CIA, the Council had taken into consideration:

•         Local crime and disorder statistics, including statistics on specific types of crime and crime hotspots such as antisocial behaviour offences

•         Health-related statistics such as alcohol-related emergency attendances and hospital admissions

•         Environmental health complaints, particularly in relation to noise evidence obtained through local consultation.

During the seven-week consultation period, the responses received to the consultation were in favour of retaining the CIA in Newmarket. In addition, all major stakeholders from the area, including the Police and the Town Council, were also in favour of retention. Responses that were not in favour of retaining the CIA, however, focused on the relatively low crime rates in Newmarket. On balance it was considered that to not renew the CIA was not appropriate at this time.

Given the support for retention of the CIA, but the unknown impact of COVID-19 on business and high street development, a review in two years rather than three years would allow the Council to fully understand the impact of COVID-19 on the town and whether the CIA had any undue effect on business recovery. It, also, provided the opportunity to explore a range of other mechanisms for controlling cumulative impact, both within and outside the licensing regime, that are available for addressing such issues.  The rationale for the retention of the existing boundary was also detailed in paragraph 5.4.3 of the report.

Resolved:

That:

1.           The Cumulative Impact Assessment in Newmarket at its current boundaries, be retained.

2.           The review period be two years, rather than the usual three years.