The committee received the report of the Senior Licensing Officer which set out the options available to the authority to review the Statement of Licensing Policy and to confirm the principles of the consultation for reviewing the policy.

The Senior Licensing Officer introduced the report. Following a change in legislation, it was necessary to undertake a review of the cumulative impact policy which applied in the town centre. A cumulative impact assessment was required to review the data and evidence for the policy. The council’s overarching Statement of Licensing Policy was required to be reviewed every five years and this had last happened in 2018. 

The significance of the cumulative impact policy was that for applications for licences in that area, the starting point for licensing sub-committees was to refuse the application. The options set out in the report were to remove the cumulative impact policy, replace the policy with a separate special policy or to consult on and publish a cumulative impact assessment to determine whether to continue with the current policy or amend or remove it. Officers were proposing that the third option be pursued.  Officers would collate the evidence to justify the policy and bring a report to the Licensing Committee in January 2021. There would be a public consultation following the January meeting with approval of the final policy at the March meetings of the Licensing Committee and Council.

The committee welcomed the timely review of the cumulative impact policy and noted that there could be changes to the town centre in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and that the diversity of the offer was to be encouraged.

Members noted that there were potential for new developments in the town centre and it was confirmed that the exercise was based on existing data and trends; it would not be possible to take future changes into consideration. The cumulative impact policy would, however, be subject to review at least every three years.

Considering the difference between a cumulative impact policy and a special policy area; officers advised that the cumulative impact policy had more power. This was because the starting point for applications in the policy area could be a refusal, instead of being to grant the application subject to conditions unless there were good reasons not to grant it. The special policy areas in operation in other areas of Watford, known as sensitive licensing areas, were areas where there were specific known concerns.

The committee was advised that the scope of the cumulative impact policy could be extended to a wider range of licensable activities, should the evidence suggest that it would be appropriate. No data had yet been formally requested from the police and other authorities. The council was also aware that COVID-19 had had significant impacts on the town centre and further policy changes may not be appropriate at this time.

RESOLVED –

1.      that the licensing authority draw up a Cumulative Impact Assessment to retain a Cumulative Impact Policy within the town centre.

2.      that the Cumulative Impact Assessment, and a proposed policy, be brought before the Licensing Committee in January 2021 for approval. Consultation on the policy would start after the January Committee and run until mid to late February. The results of the consultation and the final Cumulative Assessment, policy and equalities impact assessment being considered by the committee in March 2021