The Head of Regulatory Services and Community Safety has submitted a report to seek agreement of the licence fees for 2021/22 where the Council has discretion over the level of fee charged

Recommendation: That the Licensing & Gambling Acts Committee resolves to:

1.    Agree the licence fees and charges for 2021/22 as set out in Appendix 1 and recommend them to Council.

The Head of Regulatory Services and Community Safety had submitted a report to seek agreement of the licence fees for 2021/22 where the Council has discretion over the level of fee charged.

The report was introduced by  Lucy Longford, Licensing Compliance Officer, noting that no substantial changes were proposed for the forthcoming Council year in order to provide financial stability for licence holders in the present economic climate.

The Chair reminded those present that most of the charges were statutory and in relation to which the Committee’s discretion was limited to the level of charge imposed.

In response to a question about whether fees were currently  being paid  it was confirmed that in the majority of cases they were. At the time of the first lockdown the Local Government Association had suggested to Government that these fees might be waived however the Government maintained that they should continue to be paid. In the minority of cases where fees were not paid, the associated licenses were reinstated immediately upon payment. It was noted that these fees were relatively small when compared with the relief from business rates which was currently being offered.

The Committee was very supportive of the proposals to maintain the current level of charges. It was also noted that many of the businesses to which these fees applied were not able to operate because of other Covid related factors at the current time.

The Licensing & Gambling Acts Committee resolved to:

1.    Agree the licence fees and charges for 2021/22 as set out in Appendix 1 and recommend them to Council.