Changes to licensing policy aimed at protecting the vulnerable are due to go before councillors this week.
Brighton and Hove City Council’s Licensing Committee is being asked to approve several changes when the new “statement of licensing policy” goes before members tomorrow (Thursday 6 November).
Changes include a “good operator policy”, a grassroots music venue category and bringing in a “city safety area” (CSA).
The proposed new CSA would replace the cumulative impact zone (CIZ) where there are restrictions on new alcohol-led venues and late-night businesses.
The safety-first approach also includes door policies that should mean vulnerable people are not just ejected on to the street.
And it would mean vulnerability training to support people from the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning community) and measures aimed at preventing violence against women and girls.
Slightly more than half of the 70 people who responded to a consultation backed replacing the CIZ with the CSA, with less than a quarter opposing the move.
A report to the Licensing Committee said: “After careful consideration, the licensing authority has decided to redesignate the area formerly covered by the CIZ as a CSA in order to make safety the overriding focus and priority in and around licensed venues.
“In doing so the licensing authority’s objective is to maximise protection for everyone participating in the night-time economy, particularly people visiting, working and living in the city centre.
“It is recognised that cumulative impact continues to be a feature of the CSA but by careful scrutiny of licence applications and mandating robust safety policies the licensing authority’s aim is to improve safety by reducing levels of crime, disorder and public nuisance (and their associated harms) and so promote the licensing objectives within the CSA.”
Three-quarters of survey respondents backed the safeguarding aim including guarding against “modern slavery” and observing Martyn’s law – requiring venues that hold more than 200 people to be better prepared to deal with terrorism.
More than 80 per cent of respondents supported the safety-first door policy, with just one opposing.
Two-thirds of respondents backed a grassroots music venue category, with a similar number backing the introduction of a “good operator” policy.
The “good operator” policy would apply to licence holders who apply for a variation and have not been subject to formal interventions in the previous three to five years
New grassroots music venues would be permitted to sell alcohol until midnight in the city safety area and 1am outside it. New performance venues would be able to secure midnight licences.
The report said: “This policy recognises the need to encourage live music, dancing and theatre for the wider cultural benefits of the community generally.
The best way to protect the vulnerable lower crime ect ect is really simple. Shut the off licences down.
Pubs and bars are to expensive for the day drinkers who create so much of the trouble.