Saturday, September 15, 2007
IMPACT OF 2003 LICENSING ACT
| Conservatives respond to Lambeth's licensing policy review |  | |
From Cllr Clare Whelan, Licensing Spokesperson, on behalf of the Lambeth Conservative Group: "Firstly we would like to comment on the review process itself. The way the consultation is being undertaken in our view represents a missed opportunity. It would have been more helpful to have reviewed the operation of the policy to date and then to outline what changes are proposed to it, rather than simply issue a new draft. "We realise the current licensing legislation is flawed, but are concerned that Lambeth residents are not being properly protected from late night opening of some premises, which in some areas appears to have got out of hand. We are keen that the draft is reviewed with this in mind, drawing on best practice in other parts of the country | ||
| where different approaches have been taken. We are still, unfortunately, despite the new guidance, restricted as ward councillors in how we can make sure our residents' views are properly represented, particularly where they are reluctant, for understandable reasons to come forward themselves. We should urge that it is made as easy as possible for legitimate representations to be made. More input from the police should be encouraged. The police rarely put in objections even where it seems likely that the police have a record of continual problems associated with individual premises. (This was a problem with the previous system as well.) We also consider that a further paragraph should be inserted about ensuring that premises have adequate arrangements for ensuring that smokers outside the building do not disturb residents by creating an additional disturbance in the street over and above the ordinary constraints of the premises. "We are conscious that in some parts of the borough there already appears to be an intolerable concentration of licensed promises and are concerned that according to the statement there appears still to be no evidence of this. We are not sure why not. Are the police not collecting evidence? Is Lambeth not collecting evidence? St. Thomas' Hospital has, I understand, detailed evidence on the increase in alcohol related A&E admissions. Can this not be be considered? We are keen to ensure that statistics are collected in such a form that, should a decision be considered to introduce a saturation zone, the required information to back this up as required by the legislation is available. We also consider that greater consideration should be given to working with neighbouring boroughs, particular where a town centre effective straddles more than one borough, for example Herne Hill, and Crystal Palace where four boroughs come together. "We would also urge the Council to use its political contacts to lobby at the highest level for the Licensing Act to be revised once again to iron out the flaws and ensure that residents are properly protected, including the means to capitalise on the local knowledge of councillors and demanding that the previously rejected suggestions of the Select Committee are reconsidered as part of the review and are subjected to reasoned analysis instead of being dismissed out of hand." | ||
Thanks to Clr Clare Whelan one of 9 councillors covering Herne Hill for supporting the Herne Hill Forum's campaign for a review of the impact of the 2003 Licensing Act
on the Community.
PLEASE NOTE THE INFORMATION ATTACHED TO THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THIS ARTICLE RELATED TO OTHER MATTERS COULD NOT BE EDITED OUT IT IS NOT THE FORUM'S INTENTION TO
PROMOTE ANYSPECIFIC POLITICAL PARTY. ....BY THEIR DEEDS YE SHALL KNOW THEM
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