New powers letting the Mayor of London overrule council licensing decisions have come into force. Cllr Tim Barnes, Deputy Leader of Westminster City Council and Cabinet Member for Growth and Planning, has told the London Standard that the West End needs enough police and resources, not more decisions taken at City Hall.
The powers, granted by Andy Burnham’s Government, let Sadiq Khan call in licensing applications he considers strategically important to London, such as those involving large venues, live music, later opening hours and major events, and make the final decision himself. The Mayor has called it “the beginning of a new era for London’s nightlife”.
Cllr Barnes said the move was “much more like a land grab by the mayor to try and bring control of ever more things into his empire rather than a use of his powers to actually try and solve a problem”.
“Westminster approves about 98.5% of valid licensing applications,” he said. “The Mayor will still be bound by the same licensing objectives as councils. In busy nightlife areas like the West End, it’s less about licensing choices and more about having enough police and resources to manage crowds and anti-social behaviour.”
Cllr Barnes also told BBC News this week that the proposed definition of a “strategic” application could cover nearly 80% of licensed premises in Westminster. Read that story here.
