Southampton to consider implementation of late night levy

Southampton City Council will tomorrow (17 September) consider whether to introduce a late night levy from April next year.

The move was backed by the authority’s licensing committee last week.

If implemented, the levy will apply from 00:01 to 06:00. It will comprise an annual payment of between £299 and £4,440 by premises authorised to supply alcohol after midnight, with the resultant revenues split 70:30 between the police and the council respectively.

Exemptions will be made available for:

  • hotels etc. supplying alcohol for on-consumption by resident patrons;
  • theatres supplying alcohol for on-consumption to ticket holders, performers, guests at private events;
  • cinemas supplying alcohol for on-consumption to ticket holders, guests at private events;
  • bingo halls where the playing of non-remote bingo is the primary activity;
  • registered community amateur sports clubs;
  • community premises like church halls and village halls, etc. that are subject to the alternative licence condition; and
  • premises authorised to supply alcohol for on-consumption only between midnight and 6 am on 1 January.

Permitted exemption categories that will not apply include single country village pubs and premises liable for the Business Improvement District levy.

The proposals also reject the permitted reduction category of membership of a business-led best practice scheme, save “that if such a scheme is subsequently approved and adopted by the council….. that the Head of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to administer the scheme and take all decisions in relation to it, including reductions in the levy payable by approved premises”.

Also ruled out is the permitted reduction category for certain premises authorised to supply alcohol for on-consumption which receive small business rate relief.

Richard Ivory, Southampton’s Head of Legal and Democratic Services, said: “The principle behind the council proposing the late night levy is that of the need to maintain - and hopefully increase - the range of measures including direct policing costs directly related to managing the antisocial aspects of the city’s night time economy and primarily alcohol-related behaviour post-midnight. It is clear that there is a significant cost - not solely police costs - in managing this.”

The report prepared for Southampton can be viewed here.

Councils to have approved a late night levy now include: Newcastle; Cheltenham; Islington; City of London; Nottingham; and Chelmsford.

UPDATE: Southampton City Council has now approved the introduction of the late night levy from 1 April 2015.

Cllr Satvir Kaur, cabinet member for Communities, said: "Southampton has a vibrant night time economy which is enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. We are a proud university city with over 40,000 students choosing to study here, many of whom are living away from home for the first time. The council and our partners, such as the police, share the responsibility for keeping people safe and limiting the effects the night-time economy has on surrounding communities.

"We have a number of successful initiatives in place to achieve this but these come at a cost to local taxpayers. We have therefore decided to take the Government’s advice to implement a late night levy on businesses authorised to supply alcohol after midnight. We believe it is fair and reasonable that companies benefitting from the night time economy should contribute to the costs it generates. This levy will mean that the council and its partners can maintain - and hopefully increase - the range of measures in place to manage the problems associated with the night time economy and continue to keep Southampton a safe and enjoyable place late at night."