Westminster City Council has criticised Sadiq Khan’s new licensing powers, saying they will “do little” to fix London’s evening and night-time economy.
Councillor Geoff Barraclough, the cabinet member for planning and economic development on the Labour-led council, said licensing was “not even close to the top issue” hospitality businesses face.
“These proposals will do little to promote the nighttime economy. At a time when fewer and fewer Londoners base their nights out around drinking alcohol, focusing an economic development strategy on more drinking is likely to fail,” he said of the Labour mayor’s plans.
“Effort would be better spent improving the availability of late night transport, lowering business rate bills or tackling public safety concerns.”
Barraclough said the new powers would create more layers of “complicated and costly process” that mean licence applications will take longer and the outcomes could be less certain.
He said: “However well intended, the Mayor’s approach means more red tape for business because The Mayor will have to make any decisions within the same legal framework we are bound by — except without the same wealth of local knowledge and years of experience.”
He added: “Councils like Westminster have the local experience and expertise to make decisions which strike the right balance. We’ve been doing it for years. We simply cannot support an approach which could enable the Mayor to intervene in every application in the West End.”
Barraclough’s comments are in stark contrast to his Labour party colleague on Camden Council. Last year Councillor Jonathan Simpson said he “welcomed the move” when the Government’s new legislation was announced — something that alarmed residents’ groups in the borough.
Residents groups in Westminster are also concerned that their views on local licensing applications will be sidelined by the Mayor’s power to over rule the council’s decisions.
The Mayor of London this week launched a six-week consultation on plans to create a unified licensing scheme across the capital. He also proposed new powers from the Government that would mean he can call-in licensing applications that are of “strategic importance”.
This means applications that have significant economic impact, like large venues, festivals or temporary use of spaces before redevelopment or in important locations like high streets or any that have an impact on the capital’s reputation.
City Hall is drafting up a new London-wide “Licensing Playbook” to guide local authorities on best practice and provide templates and approaches to ensure consistency across the capital.
Last year, the Government announced it would give licensing powers to the Mayor to help boost the capital’s night-time economy. According to City Hall, the policy will help businesses and boroughs by reducing the inconsistency of licensing rules and regulations. It said the new policy framework would boost the economy and align better with the Mayor’s strategic priorities.
Mayor Khan, said: “We want to continue improving London’s nightlife by encouraging later opening hours, supporting our nightlife industries and revitalising our high streets. Too often we’ve heard from pubs, clubs, music venues, restaurants and others that have struggled to get the licenses they need to succeed.
“That’s why I’m working to create a system that will end the ‘licensing postcode lottery’ and works for businesses, boroughs and Londoners alike. By making it easier to extend opening hours and expand what’s on offer at night for Londoners and visitors, we can continue to grow our capital’s nightlife offer and build a better London for everyone.”
Kate Nicholls, chair of UK Hospitality and member of the Nightlife Taskforce, said: “London is home to some of our most iconic hospitality and leisure hubs, from the buzzing nightlife of Soho to world-leading theatres in the West End. These are strategic, economic priorities for the capital that should be treated as such and I’m pleased that this approach to licensing from the Mayor will deliver that.
“This consistent approach is much-needed to deliver economic growth, meet the needs of Londoners and satisfy demand from millions of international visitors.”
Additional reporting by Linus Rees.
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