Granted as part of a new pilot scheme, the powers could have a big impact on London nightlife
After launching a new nightlife taskforce to help the city’s nighttime economy thrive earlier in the year, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has now been granted new powers to overturn decisions made by local councils when they reject late licensing proposals from bars and other venues. The move is part of a pilot scheme created by the government to help give the hospitality sector a boost – UKHospitality states that a combination of all rising costs would amount to a £3.4 billion hit for the industry.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said that the scheme will ensure that businesses have “the conditions to grow” and were not “tied down by unnecessarily burdensome red tape”. Echoing the same sentiment, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: “Our pubs, restaurants and live music venues are the beating heart of our cultural life, so it is vital they are given every chance to survive and thrive. Too often, we have seen the complaints of a vocal minority of objectors promoted over the need for our country to grow – we are determined to change this.”
With Khan able to “call in” licensing applications in areas of importance to the nighttime economy, the city could see bars and venues open later and more al fresco dining. If successful, the scheme could be expanded to Greater Manchester and the West Midlands.
While Khan and the government are firmly behind the idea, some of the city’s councils are less enthusiastic. A spokesperson for Westminster City Council said: “Westminster has the most pubs and clubs of any local authority so we already have extensive expertise in supporting business to thrive while balancing the views of local people and the police.
“We grant the vast majority of licensing applications, which are only refused where safety concerns are raised by the police or significant disruption is likely. We need to see the proposals in more detail before commenting further.”
These new powers come hot on the heels of calls from London Councils for a power-sharing arrangement between the mayor and the city’s 32 boroughs, so it’ll be interesting to see how this plays out.
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