Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Duncan.

The minutes of the meeting held on the 30^th April 2013 were agreed and signed by the Chair.

Mr D Ward, Councillor J Yates, Mr K Ayoubi, Mr P McManus, Mr M Stevens, Mr J Stephenson, Mr S Thompson, Mr N Bartholemy and Mr D Huffadine-Smith were granted leave to address the Committee in respect of Item 6 - Proposal for an Early Morning Restriction Order

Councillor Wire DL declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 6 - Proposal for an Early Morning Restriction Order, as a Member of Northampton Working Men’s Club (CRU Club).

The Chair stated that he had received a letter from the Chief Constable inviting all Licensing Authorities in Northamptonshire to observe policing in the Leisure Zone in the near future and asked for members to express their interest.

Report of Chief Executive

Mr Ward addressed the Committee and stated that prior to any consultation being agreed, alternative proposals needed to be considered. He argued that the an Early Morning Restriction Order (EMRO) would not reduce crime but would move it on to another area outside of the Leisure Zone and therefore the Licensing Objectives would not be enhanced any further and Police resources more stretched.

Councillor Yates commented that he was not against late night drinking, but felt that a 3am restriction would be acceptable. He stated that Northampton was a County Town and not a large city and the introduction of an EMRO would be suitable.

Mr Ayoubi commented that the Police had stated that their concerns were evidence based but argued that anyone could produce predetermined statistics to fit the premise. He further stated that whilst the statistics demonstrated that there was an increase in crime after 3am, 60 per cent of alcohol related crime was committed during the daytime; to prohibit the sale of alcohol between 3am and 6am would lead to a spike in crimes due to the high numbers of people leaving establishments at the same time, instead of dispersing gradually.

Mr McManus stated that he was opposed to the introduction of an EMRO as he believed that if implemented it would be punishing the majority of responsible drinkers for the behaviour of the minority. He stated that new initiatives needed to be given a chance to be embedded and then, if necessary, to review again at a later date. It was noted that should the Committee decide to go out to consultation and approve the introduction of the EMRO, the implementation date would be the 18^th November 2013, which he argued was too close to the festive period and would jeopardise businesses in the area.

Mr Stevens commented that as the proprietor of two licensed premises, if he had been aware of the possibility of an EMRO being introduced, he would not have established the business in Northampton. He commented that he had experienced no trouble with his diverse clientele. He commented that as a Licensing Authority, the Council already had the ability to act on licensed establishments who had contravened the Licensing objectives.

Mr Thompson noted that his establishment employed approximately 200 people and that the introduction of an EMRO would be an end to his business. He argued that it would put a ‘black cloud’ over the Town and would wrongly give the impression that the Town had a disproportionate number of problems with crime and anti-social behaviour.

Mr Bartholemy, as the Chair of Pubwatch, stated that he was neither in favour, nor against the concept of the introduction of EMROs but asked the Committee to take time in considering the implications. He suggested that pubs and clubs could not be held to account for the loss of control that the Police had in the Town centre especially with regards to the habit of people ‘pre-loading’ before they visited licensed premises  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.