The Council is requested to agree the following recommendation of the Licensing Act Committee held on 16 November 2022:

Council is recommended to continue to include a cumulative impact assessment within the Council's Statement of Licensing Policy.

Licensing Act Committee minute 13 (16/11/22) and reports attached.

The fourth matter requiring approval was the Cumulative Impact Assessment Review, which provided consultation feedback on the cumulative impact assessment which is contained within the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy and recommended that a Cumulative Impact Assessment continued to be included within the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy.

On a motion by Councillor Andrew Hodson, seconded by Councillor Claire O’Hagan, it was –

Resolved (unanimously) – That a Cumulative Impact Assessment continue to be included within the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy.

The Head of Legal Services (Interim Monitoring Officer) submitted a report providing Members of the Committee with consultation feedback on the

cumulative impact assessment which is contained within the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy, requesting that the Committee make a recommendation to Council as to whether there is evidence that it would be necessary to continue to include a cumulative impact assessment within the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy.

The Licensing Manager reported that the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy had first been published in January 2005 and had since been subject to four reviews, the last full review of the Policy had taken place in December 2019.

Merseyside Police had requested the Licensing Authority consider adopting a Special Cumulative Impact Policy for an area within Birkenhead due to the level of crime and disorder, public nuisance, littering, street drinking, under-age drinking and anti-social behaviour believed to be resulting in part from the number of off-licence premises located in the area. The request had been  supported by Ward Councillors.

Further to a comprehensive consultation process about the possibility of introducing a Special Cumulative Impact Policy for Charing Cross, Grange Road West, Grange Mount, Oxton Road and the boundary of the Town Centre and upon examining the responses received through the consultation, the Licensing Authority had been satisfied that there was evidence that the number of premises in Charing Cross, Grange Road West, Grange Mount, Oxton Road and the boundary of the Town Centre licensed under the Licensing Act 2003 for the sale by retail of alcohol for consumption off the premises were cumulatively giving rise to significant problems of public nuisance and crime and disorder.

The Licensing Authority subsequently resolved to introduce a Special Cumulative Impact Policy limited to Charing Cross, Grange Road West, Grange Mount, Oxton Road and the boundary of the Town Centre with effect from 10 July 2017 to apply to Premises licensed for the sale by retail of alcohol for consumption off the premises only.

Members were informed that it was now necessary to review the current

circumstances and determine whether there was evidence for the Statement of Licensing Policy to continue to include a cumulative impact assessment.

Statutory consultation had been undertaken regarding whether it remained necessary for the cumulative impact assessment to continue to be included in the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy.  In response to the consultation, Merseyside Police had submitted a report which provided details of alcohol related crimes and anti social behaviour in and around the area of Birkenhead to which the cumulative impact assessment applied. The findings of Merseyside Police were attached at Appendix 2 to the report and it was the view of Merseyside Police that street drinking continued to be a major policing issue within the assessment area. Included in the report from Merseyside Police were the results of a survey that had been undertaken with businesses in the area. Thirty-Seven local businesses responded to the survey, some of which had provided details of the impact of street  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13