Issue - decisions

The Committee received a report from the Team Manager (Commercial & Licensing).

The report stated the Statement of Licensing Policy was recently reviewed, approved by Licensing Committee on 17 October 2017, and subsequently full Council on 19 October 2017.

The Special Policy on Cumulative Effect (the Cumulative Impact Policy) was contained within the Licensing Policy. During the consultation period Cambridge Constabulary responded to say that based on the figures provided in Appendix 3 of the Statement of Licensing Policy it was questionable whether the Romsey area of Mill Road should remain as part of the Cumulative Impact Area.

Licensing Committee therefore requested officers to undertake a further twelve week formal consultation on whether to remove the Romsey area of Mill Road from the Cumulative Impact Area, or not.

The formal consultation took place between 13 November 2017 and 4 February 2018. Twenty nine responses were received all supporting keeping the existing Cumulative Impact Area (CIA).

The Committee received a representation from Councillor Baigent as a Ward Councillor.

The representation covered the following issues:

       i.          There had been a considerable reduction in crime as a result of the CIA so he saw no reason to remove it.

     ii.          He supported comments from the police.

   iii.          There were many places to buy alcohol in Romsey so the CIA was needed to reduce alcohol related crime.

   iv.          More student flats were expected in Mill Road in future. Students drank no more than other people, but the number of residents in the area would increase.

The Committee made the following comments in response to the report:

       i.          Things were improving due to the CIA, but problems had not been solved, so the CIA should be maintained.

     ii.          Romsey was an up and coming area so more dwellings were expected in future. The CIA was needed to mitigate this.

   iii.          Mill Road had a good sense of community. The CIA helped this and helped the police to address street drinking. Residents supported the CIA.

Councillor Gehring sought clarification why the police suggested leaving the upper end of Mill Road out of the CIA. Sergeant Stevenson said the police assessment was based on statements of fact. His own view was “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. IE keep the CIA as it.

The Committee:

Members considered the results of the public consultation exercise as summarised in Appendix E of the Officer’s report and unanimously resolved the Cumulative Impact Policy should remain as it is.