Agenda item

To receive information on the proposed Cumulative Impact Area (CIA) for Salisbury.

A copy of the CIA report, considered by the Licensing Committee on 2 June 2014 is attached for information.

Officer: Naji Darwish, Head of Public Protection (Community Protection)

The Board noted the information included in the agenda on pages 63 – 74, and received a presentation from Naji Darwish, Head of Public Protection (Community Protection), on the proposed Cumulative Impact Area (CIA) for Salisbury.

The Chairman explained that following correspondence with local business owners and the Salisbury City Council (SCC), it had become apparent that there was some concern over the introduction of a CIA for Salisbury. There was also support for the current policy to remain in place as it was felt that it worked well for the City.

The CIA was an additional power brought forward by central government, which gave local authorities the option to impose a collective impact on city centres. Under the current licensing process every new application was considered on its own merits. The introduction of a CIA would enable Licensing Authorities to have more say about what goes into a city centre. Preserving what was already in place and only focussing on new applications.

At its meeting on 2 September 2013 the Licensing Committee resolved that “Further analysis of the available data and evidence in support of the adoption of a Special Policy for the Milford Street area of Salisbury needed to be carried out and a consultation process completed with all interested parties over a twelve week period”.

Comments and questions were then received, these included:

·         Amanda Newbery of Salisbury Business Improvement District (BID) explained that the BID had discussed the proposals for a CIA briefly at their last meeting; most of those in attendance were not in favour of taking it forward, adding that they had worked really hard to achieve the Purple Flag Status, they did not want to change the dynamics of the relationship.

·         What was the Purple Flag? Answer: The Purple Flag was an accreditation awarded to Towns and Cities which had achieved a high standard of evening and night time economy.

·         Local resident, Jane Woodhouse pointed out that in section 3.1 of the appendix to the report, stated that 74% of the 82 responses received during the public consultation were in support of the authority implementing a CIA in the city. Ms Woodhouse felt that those views had not been regarded, and asked whether there would be further consultation? Answer: The views of the residents were critically important.

·         As the decision had been delayed by six months, would the public still be able to feed in their views? Answer: Yes, the first step for further consultation was to come to the Board and present information and gain views, the next stage would include going out to stakeholders.

·         For some elderly residents living in the city, sleep was a requirement for health; they did not favour reducing the size of the CIA. Answer: Reducing the size of the proposed CIA area would be considered, along with any effects it may cause on the health of residents.

·         SCC Cllr Matthew Dean was a licensee outside of the proposed Salisbury CIA area. He was unambiguously against the implementation of a CIA for Salisbury, as were the majority of the SCC Cllrs. The proposals would make it much more difficult for a new hotel, bar or public house to open in the city. As businesses shut, we would want to see new businesses opening in their place. If it became too difficult, these new businesses would look to other areas which looked at applications on their own merits, not by a CIA. On behalf of the licensing trade, taxis and the planning committee of SCC, I ask you to reject the plans for a CIA in Salisbury.

·         Cllr Walsh noted that the licensing committee had no members from the Salisbury area. Statistics reported that there were more problems in the evening, than in Trowbridge or Chippenham, however more people came in to Salisbury than the other locations so the figures did not actually represent an accurate picture. 39,000 people did not reply to the consultation, and service personnel were not asked to participate, when large numbers of them come in to the city to use the night time facilities. Cllr Walsh had asked the licensing committee to delay the decision by six months to allow for further consultation with local people. He would like the licensing committee to come and hold the meeting in Salisbury, so that local people could attend to put their views across.

·         Cllr Douglas noted that the graph on page 71 was missing some text which meant that it was not clear what the information was showing. In addition, Cllr Douglas felt that the Licensing Committee should come and spend an evening out in Salisbury on a Saturday night, staying until the nightclubs closed, so they could actually see for themselves what they were actually be asked to make a decision on.

·         What was the problem that the CIA was supposed to be addressing, and how would the CIA address it? Was there an analysis of the problem?

·         Cllr Clewer explained that Salisbury wanted to see more people staying in the city during 3.00 – 5.00pm. We need to understand the problem and make sure that this tool did not attack the balance which was required, rather than address it. We do not have a problem here in Salisbury, we are a calm, quiet and peaceful place, and this tool may have the wrong impact on that.

·         Salisbury needs a strong nigh time economy, as we are already competing with other areas like Southampton and Bournemouth. We are proud to have the Purple Flag status and want to hold on to it.

·         If you move in next to a pub then you should expect some noise, however if you were there first and a pub opens next to you, then you have the right to complain. It is understandable that people may have concerns, but the way to stop issues with bad pubs is through the licensing or planning process.

·         As ward Councillor for Harnham which was outside the city centre, Cllr Dalton had not received any complaints regarding the CIA and had neutral feelings on the subject.

·         Cllr McKeown was ward Councillor for the area covered by the proposed CIA. As a local GP, late night drinking produced an increase in work for doctors, nurses and casualty department. Cllr McKeown had been out late at night with the police and Licensing Officers to see firsthand what went on. The night time economy needed to be supported by buses coming in and out of the surrounding villages. For the elderly residents which had moved to the city to downsize their home and remain mobile, they not only had to deal with noise, but also vomit, urination and opening of bowels on the streets. Cllr McKeown would like to see a wider CIA area, but would settle for the reduced zone, and was supportive of the implementation of a CIA for Salisbury.

The Chairman asked for a show of hands in the room to see the level of support and those against the implementation of a CIA for the city. The majority of those who voted were against it.

Decision

The Area Board remained neutral and encouraged local residents to continue to take part in the ongoing consultation.