(a) Licensing hours

7.1 With regard to licensing hours, and where relevant representations have been received in response to an application, consideration will be given to the individual merits of each application. The Council recognises that flexible licensing and closing hours are important to ensure that the concentrations of customers leaving premises simultaneously are avoided. This is necessary to reduce the friction at late night fast food outlets, taxi ranks and other sources of transport that lead to disorder and disturbance.

7.2 The Council aims to ensure that licensing hours do not inhibit the development of thriving and safe evening and night-time local economies. Providing consumers with greater choice and flexibility will be an important consideration. This is important for investment and employment locally and will attract domestic and international tourists. The ability to resource local services associated with the night-time economy will also be taken into account as part of this approach.

7.3 The Council’s aim through the promotion of the licensing objectives is to reduce the potential for concentrations, and achieve a slower dispersal, of people from licensed premises, particularly during the night-time hours (23.00hrs to 07.00hrs the following day). However stricter controls with regard to noise control will be expected in areas that have denser residential accommodation, but this will not limit opening hours without regard for the individual merits of any application.

7.4 With regard to shops, stores and supermarkets, the norm will be for such premises to be free to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises at any times when the retail outlet is open for shopping unless there are very good reasons for restricting those hours. For example, a limitation may be appropriate following representations from a responsible authority in the case of isolated shops that may be a focus of disorder or disturbance.

(b) Outdoor events

7.5 The general terminal hour for all licensable activities shall be 23:00 at outdoor events.

7.6 Organisers/applicants shall demonstrate that they have the required permissions in place to use the land (whether private land or on Council owned land).

7.7 Organisers/applicants shall demonstrate that they have arrangements in place to ensure the site is properly checked and certified (for example, if water supplies or electrics need to be safety checked).

7.8 Organisers/applicants using Council owned land will demonstrate that they have notified and where necessary sought authorisation/advice from the relevant Council departments (for example, the Parks and Open Spaces, Highways etc.).

7.9 Organisers/applicants shall demonstrate that they have notified the fire authority of the event date and venue with details of the event and undertaken a fire safety risk assessment for the event. A guide to fire risk assessment for open air events and venues is available from the GOV.UK website.