Camden Council to put new later hours licensing policy out for public consultation

Camden Council is forging ahead with controversial licensing policy changes despite public outcry from residents’ groups from across the borough.

Plans put forward earlier this year by Cllr Jonathan Simpson MBE aimed to boost the borough’s nightlife by relaxing restrictions around opening hours and clusters of pubs, bars and similar venues.

Those plans had included increasing the terminal “framework hours” to 2am on Saturday and Sunday for night clubs, music and dance venues.

It is understood that concerns raised by the police prompted the licensing committee to pull the draft policy in January, while a coalition of residents’ groups complained that more liberal rules would worsen noise and crime in the borough.

Licensing officers, in response to the concerns raised, have since modified the draft policy.

However, the council is still seeking to extend “framework hours” — the period when councils are not expected to put safeguards in place “to prevent crime and disorder and public nuisance”.

Under its updated proposals, bars, pubs, restaurants and fast-food outlets would have an extra 30 minutes before extra requirements apply.

The new terminal hour for sales would be midnight from Monday to Thursday, 12.30am on Friday and Saturday, and 11pm on Sunday — with closing time being a further 30 minutes later.

Both the Camden Town and Seven Dials special policy areas have also been omitted from the draft policy, removing the previous restrictions on new applications for alcohol-led premises.

On Tuesday evening, representatives of residents’ groups came to the council chamber to put their case against the changes to officers and councillors.

David Kaner, speaking on behalf of Covent Garden Community Association as well as a number of other residents’ groups including the Charlotte Street Association, said that the report presented to the committee gives the impression that licensed premises are being lost.

He said this was not true as “Camden’s data shows that the number of licensed premises has grown”. If a premises does close another one usually opens in its place, and taking on the same licence.

“Approving this policy because hospitality businesses are vanishing from our streets is a solution to a problem that does not exist,” he said.

Kate Gemmell, from Tenants’ and Residents’ Association Camden Town (Tract), argued that the new proposals “firmly shift the balance in favour of businesses”.

Tract has previously criticised the council’s licensing panels as too generous in their granting licenses for alcohol sales and late hours for new premises nearby to people’s homes.

“We challenge anyone to walk the streets near these high streets at 8am in the morning and see the resulting filth and litter, left by those using the late-night premises,” Gemmell said.

While Tract and other residents groups fear a rise in crime and disorderly behaviour, businesses and landowners spoke in support of the proposed changes.

Liam O’Hare from landlord Labtech, which owns a large number of premises in Camden Town, said the changes would “inject a new generation of operators into the town centre, and new ideas bringing vibrancy to the borough”.

Shaftesbury Capital, which has a large property estate in Covent Garden, also made a deputation in support of Camden’s new policy.

Jamie Akinola, the borough’s director of public safety, attempted to soothe anxieties and assured residents their concerns had been taken on board. 

Fewer restrictions and impact assessments would mean the council would simply give carte-blanche to new or varying premises licence applications, he argued.

“Nowhere in the draft policy does it say that, if an application comes in which is in line with framework hours: that’s it — it goes through.

“That’s not the case. I expect them to be scrutinising all applications,” he said.

Akinola stressed that applications are often “much more nuanced and responsive to local issues”, and that all are considered on a “case-by-case basis” involving responsible authorities — including the police.

Under the updated rules, those in charge of considering each application would have extra responsibilities to prioritise and promote the licensing objectives — balancing both “crime and disorder” and “economic considerations”.

Cllr Richard Cotton urged the Town Hall to be careful in removing its cumulative impacts assessments, and warned that locals had grown sceptical of consultations as a serious way of involving the public in making decisions.

“Police have made it clear they cannot cope with the existing pressures of the night-time economy, and they do not have the resources to cope with any significant increase in that.

“Last January, residents made clear the overriding thing they wanted was to preserve the delicate balance between their needs and the night-time economy.

“It feels as if one of the few protections residents are afforded is to be scrapped, and the optics of this are not good,” he said.

Akinola said: “What’s absolutely crucial is that active and engaged residents’ communities feel that the policy gets that balance right, and that authorities are putting through local information that can inform the decision-making process.”

Councillors on the Licensing Committee voted in favour of the updated policy and it will now be put out for the statutory 12-week public consultation process. 

The committee also voted to remove both the Camden Town and Seven Dials special policy areas, a decision that does not have to undergo public consultation.

Camden Council: Licensing Committee – Tuesday, 19 November 2024. Agenda. Webcast.

Additional reporting by Linus Rees.

Please support The Fitzrovia News. Consider helping us cover our costs by visiting our secure payment page.