Residents and businesses are invited to share opinions on the council's principles for reviewing alcohol, entertainment, late-night refreshment, and gambling licenses over the coming years.
As the Licensing Authority, Southend-on-Sea City Council must create and publish policy statements outlining its approach under the Licensing Act 2003 and the Gambling Act 2005. These Acts focus on key objectives which are:
Licensing Act 2003 objectives:
- preventing crime and disorder
- promoting public safety
- preventing public nuisance
- protecting children from harm
Gambling Act 2005 Objectives:
- preventing gambling from being a source of crime and disorder, being associated with crime and disorder, or being used to support crime
- ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way
- protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling
To support these goals, the council has prepared updated draft policies for licensing and gambling. These policies will outline the criteria for approving licence applications and set expectations for managing licensed venues and gambling establishments.
Councillor Ian Gilbert, cabinet member for regeneration, major projects, and regulatory services, said: "We must balance these objectives with keeping Southend a vibrant entertainment hub, offering a variety of restaurants, pubs, and clubs for both residents and visitors to enjoy.
"This is a fantastic opportunity for residents and business owners to share their opinions on these important issues. The council highly values the input of the local community to ensure a comprehensive review of these policies."
You can find details on how to participate in the consultations on the council's 'Your Say Southend' portal via the following links:
Draft copies of the policies are also available for download on these pages on the Your say Southend website. Both consultations close at 5pm on 21 August 2024.