Nottingham City Council approves introduction of late night levy

Nottingham City Council has become the latest authority to approve plans for the introduction of a late night levy.

The levy, which will affect more than 260 licensed premises selling alcohol after midnight, is expected to raise £200,000 a year.

Key aspects of the new regime include:

  • Monies raised will be split 70:30 between Nottinghamshire Police and the council;
  • The funds are expected to pay for extra police officers and community protection officers;
  • The cost of the levy will vary from £299 to £4,440, depending on the rateable value of premises and the extent to which the business relies on alcohol sales for its income;
  • Members of the Nottingham Business Improvement District (BID) will be exempt. This follows consultation and a strengthening of the arrangements between the council, Police and the BID. The city’s Crime & Drugs Partnership is also overseeing a review of BID-funded projects that help to improve safety at night, including 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, Nottingham’s Leader, said: "Nottingham is a very popular night-time destination and we want to make sure that people continue to choose to come here and are able to enjoy a safe night out when they do.

“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."

Newcastle City Council and Cheltenham Borough Council have already introduced late night levies, while the London Borough of Islington and City of London Corporation will bring new regimes into force in September and October respectively.