Agenda item

Report No:   CAB/SE/17/062

Portfolio Holder: Alaric Pugh           Lead Officer: Peter Gudde

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL: (19 December 2017)

That:

(1)     the proposed Cumulative Impact Area of Bury St Edmunds Town Centre contained within the Statement of Licensing Policy at Appendix 3 to Report No: LIC/SE/17/011, be amended to cover the area shown on Map 2, attached as Appendix B to Report No: CAB/SE/17/062; and

(2)     subject to the agreement of (1) above, the revised Statement of Licensing Policy incorporating the amended Cumulative Impact Policy, attached as Appendix 3 to Report No: LIC/SE/17/011, be adopted.

The Cabinet considered Report No: CAB/SE/17/062, which sought approval for a revised Cumulative Impact Policy for Bury St Edmunds Town Centre for incorporation into the Council’s overarching Statement of Licensing Policy.

St Edmundsbury Borough Council adopted the current Statement of Licensing Policy in 2012 (Report D160 refers).  Under the scope of the Policy, the Council adopted a special area policy (Cumulative Impact Policy) covering certain parts of the town centre of Bury St Edmunds where the cumulative impact of significant number of licensed premises concentrated in the area was considered to have a potential impact on the promotion of the licensing objectives. 

On 31 October 2017, the Licensing and Regulatory Committee  had considered Report No: LIC/SE/17/011, which set out proposals to re-adopt both the Statement of Licensing Policy and Cumulative Impact Policy (CIP) area for Bury St Edmunds town centre, based on a review of the current legislative framework, the effectiveness of the current policy on crime and disorder in the area and a consultation carried out in accordance with statutory guidelines that applied.

As a result of hearing representations at the meeting of the Licensing and Regulatory (L&R) Committee, including that of Councillor David Nettleton, one of the Ward Members for Risbygate ward, a summary of which was contained in the Cabinet report, the Committee had recommended to Cabinet that Map 1, attached as Appendix A to the report be the revised cumulative impact area for Bury St Edmunds Town Centre.

Subsequent to the deliberations of the L&R Committee and its recommendation, officers recommended to Cabinetthat Map 2, attached as Appendix B be the revised cumulative impact area for Bury St Edmunds Town Centre. This area included the Abbeygate ward and removed most of Risbygate ward (as recommended by the L&R Committee) apart from a small section of St Andrews Street North. The reason for this was to retain all current late night premises that had a detrimental cumulative impact on the town, such as noise, crime, anti-social behaviour and damage, within the cumulative impact area.

Councillor Alaric Pugh, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Growth drew relevant issues to the attention of Cabinet, including that application of the CIP was about creating a balance between mitigating the effects of problems that may cause a detrimental cumulative impact for residents and ensuring business growth was not stifled. 

In addition to the statements and comments made on this matter earlier in the meeting during the Open Forum and Public Participation, Councillor Joanna Rayner, the other Member for Abbeygate Ward spoke in support of the officers’ revised recommendation contained in the report.  As a member of Cabinet, she then expressed her support for Councillor Pugh’s comments, acknowledging the Council’s responsibilities towards supporting growth and business, whilst ensuring the town remained an attractive place to live. 

Whilst it had carefully considered the recommendations of the Licensing and Regulatory (L&R) Committee and the statements made earlier by non-Cabinet Members and a member of the public, the Cabinet considered that in order to achieve the balance, referred to above, the new cumulative impact area should cover the area shown in Map 2, as set out in Appendix B.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:

That:

(1)    the proposed Cumulative Impact Area of Bury St Edmunds Town Centre contained within the Statement of Licensing Policy at Appendix 3 to Report No: LIC/SE/17/011, be amended to cover the area shown on Map 2, attached as Appendix B to Report No: CAB/SE/17/062; and

(2)    subject to the agreement of (1) above, the revised Statement of Licensing Policy incorporating the amended Cumulative Impact Policy, attached as Appendix 3 to Report No: LIC/SE/17/011, be adopted.