Agenda item - Review of Statement of Licensing Policy 2018

1.    To authorise officers to go out to statutory consultation with the proposal to expand the Special Stress Area (SSA) to cover Central Hove, extend from the west side of Holland Road northwards/intersection with the North side of Lansdowne Road, going westwards along Eaton Road/Blatchington Road to the junction and then south along Sackville Road down to the seafront (details of area covered in Appendix A)

2.    To authorise officers to go out to statutory consultation on a revised Matrix on one or more of the following proposals:

a.    Change name from “café/bars” to “café” (notes to Matrix to be amended to “small food led establishment”).

b.    Reduced hours for café/bar category in CIZ (Cumulative Impact Zone).

c.    No changes

9.1       Jim Whitelegg and Sarah Cornell gave a brief overview of the Review of the Statement of Licensing Policy 2018. The proposal to extend the special stress area was highlighted. It was stated it must be recognised that there was an increase in applications for café bars. It was noted that the terminology was problematic as it was misleading as the venues were not operating as a café as their primary activity. A second proposal to consider reducing hours of café activity was noted.

9.2       Councillor O’Quinn stated that applicants had listed their venues as cafes however served cocktails.

9.3       Councillor Page stated that a change of name would be clear and enquired what new times for café closures were being proposed.

9.4       Jim Whitelegg stated that Police had suggested 8pm and that how new times were justified was open for debate.

9.5       Councillor Hyde sought clarification on whether new times would only be for future applications and not retrospective.

9.6       Jim Whitelegg clarified that new operating times would not be retrospective.

9.7       Councillor Gilbey noted a similar issue regarding a debate on what constituted substantial food.

9.8       The Chair stated that people were using café bar to get in to the CIZ area.

9.9       Councillor Wares stated that changing the terminology to just ‘café’ was good however expressed concerns with changing the times of operation for cafes.

9.10    Councillor Knight expressed concern with reducing the times of operation for cafes.

9.11    The Chair stated that applicants only wanted to make more money by selling alcohol.

9.12    Councillor Page expressed concern of the proliferation of a number of café bars putting licensing objectives at risk. It was stated that a time did not need to be settled on until after the consultation had been conducted.

9.13    RESOLVED –that the Committee members agree the following recommendations:

1.    To authorise officers to go out to statutory consultation with the proposal to expand the Special Stress Area (SSA) to cover Central Hove, extend from the west side of Holland Road northwards/intersection with the North side of Lansdowne Road, going westwards along Eaton Road/Blatchington Road to the junction and then south along Sackville Road down to the seafront (details of area covered in Appendix A)

2.    To authorise officers to go out to statutory consultation on a revised Matrix on one or more of the following proposals:

a.    Change name from “café/bars” to “café” (notes to Matrix to be amended to “small food led establishment”).

b.    Reduced hours for café/bar category in CIZ (Cumulative Impact Zone).

c.    No changes