Issue - meetings

The Director of Neighbourhood Services submitted a report setting out the arrangements for declaring an Early Morning Restriction Order.  He invited the Committee to debate the extent to which an Early Morning Restriction Order (EMRO) should be implemented in the East Herts area.

Members were advised of the operational elements of a Late Night Levy and EMRO  and the implications for the Authority and the Police in terms of the funding that would be raised by imposing a Late Night Levy.  Members were advised that 70% of the levy would go to Hertfordshire Constabulary.

The Licensing Manager advised that an EMRO would re-impose a restriction on the time that premises could open until across East Herts.  Members were reminded that licensing hours had been previously deregulated as a blanket closing time of 11 pm had presented significant challenges for police.  The staggered closing times currently in place allowed the police to plan shift patterns around when premises closed.

Members were advised that Hertfordshire Constabulary were more in favour of EMROs in terms of controlling crime and disorder, so long as the problems associated with an 11 pm blanket closure were not replicated by all premises closing at the same time early in the evening.  The police were also not in favour of a blanket late closure as this would cause problems with managing shift patterns.

The Licensing Manager referred to Cumulative Impact Areas as an additional or alternative option for Members to consider, as the police had previously requested for this to be considered in Hertford and Ware.  Members were reminded that such a measure should only be implemented if this was appropriate for the promotion of the 4 licensing objectives and there must be support from the business community.

Councillor R Beeching stated that there must be more information for Members and Officers to consider before EMROs, Late Night Levies or Cumulative Impact Areas were put in place.  Councillor K Crofton stated that he would not support these measures without more supporting evidence from the police.  The Licensing Manager stated Officers had sought more evidence from Hertfordshire Constabulary.

Members received the report and deferred a decision on the recommendations now detailed to the next meeting on 11 July 2013, subject to the receipt of information from Hertfordshire Constabulary in respect of crime and disorder and the need for an EMRO and/or Late Night Levy.

RESOLVED – that (A), subject to the receipt of information from Hertfordshire Constabulary in respect of crime and disorder and the need for an Early Morning Restriction Order (EMRO) and/or Late Night Levy, a decision on the principle of an EMRO and/or Late Night Levy being implemented in East Herts be deferred; and

(B)   the consideration of the potential advantages of Cumulative Impact Areas as an alternative to either or both the Late Night Levy and EMROs be deferred.