Nottingham City Council next to sign off plans for late night levy

The licensing committee at Nottingham City Council has backed plans for the introduction of a late night levy in November this year.

Proposals for the levy will now go before full council on 14 July for ratification.

The levy is expected to apply to just over 260 licensed premises that sell alcohol after midnight. Depending on the rateable value of premises and the extent to which the business relies on alcohol sales for its income, the levy will vary from £299 to £4,440 a year.

The levy will raise an estimated £200,000 a year, to be split 70/30 between the police and the council. “It is planned the new fund will pay for extra police officers and community protection officers patrolling the city's streets at night,” the authority said.

The original plan was for premises in the city's business improvement district (BID) to enjoy a 30% discount, but they will now receive a complete exemption.

The council said this followed consultation and a strengthening of the arrangements between the authority, the Police and the BID. The Crime & Drugs Partnership also oversaw a review of BID-funded projects that help to improvement safety at night. These include Taxi Marshalls, Street Pastors, Radiolink, Purple Flag and Best Bar None.

Premises such as theatres, cinemas, bingo halls, sports clubs and community halls will also be exempt.

Cllr Jon Collins, Leader of Nottingham City Council, said: "The funds generated through a late night levy mean that licensed premises will add to the range of activities currently funded by the public purse that have seen the city repeatedly awarded Purple Flag status in recent years, recognising Nottingham as a safe and enjoyable night out."

He added: "We never expected the levy to be popular in the licensed trade - even though it is a modest fee which no viable business will struggle to meet - but our consultation helped us consider other aspects of implementing a levy and the exemption for BID members is evidence of that."

On the current timeframe for introduction Nottingham would be the fifth authority to bring in a levy. Newcastle City Council was the first to introduce a scheme, and was followed by Cheltenham Borough Council.

The London Borough of Islington is expected to bring its levy in on 1 September, while the City of London Corporation law week backed plans for a scheme to start in October.