Agenda item

To consider the report of the Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory, presenting the latest review of the City Centre Cumulative Impact Assessment which has been subject to public consultation in January.  The report includes a copy of the City Centre Cumulative Impact Assessment and outlines the consultation responses.

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory, which presented the latest annual review of the City Centre Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA). The City Centre CIA lies within the Little London & Woodhouse and Hunslet & Riverside wards and the report included the responses to a recent public consultation on the review, with a copy of the proposed City Centre CIA at Appendix A.

The Principal Licensing Officer introduced the report and provided the background to the development of the City Centre CIA under the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003 highlighting that, due the dynamic nature of the night-time economy, the Leeds City Centre CIA is subject to an annual review.

The following key issues were also highlighted:

-  The CIA is informed by police crime statistics and West Yorkshire Police (WYP) had provided a crime report for 2016 – 2021 and an update for the period 01/09/2022 to 31/08/2023. This provided a comparison with recorded crime prior to the Coronavirus pandemic (referred to as Pre-Covid Averages PCAv).

-  The draft City Centre CIA included the statistics and Members were directed to the schedule showing the top ten recorded crimes in the City Centre CIA area –

·  Violence without injury showed a 22% increase from the PCAv

·  Public Order offences showed a 23% increase from the PCAv.

-  The statistics showed there had been a dramatic increase in the number of recorded rape and sexual offences. However it was felt that one of the reasons for this increase was the extensive work done to encourage reporting.

-  Although the crime statistics included offences which related to the day-time city centre economy (such as theft), only the offences linked to the night-time economy were referenced in the review of the CIA.

-  The report showed that Briggate, Albion Street, The Headrow, Call Lane and Woodhouse Lane remained the most active streets for overall daytime and night-time crime in the CIA – these streets are located in the two “red zones” of the CIA where police resources are most often deployed.

-  The peak times of the Upper Red Zone and Lower Red Zone had been reviewed and were proposed to remain the same-

·  Upper Red Zone 23:00 hours until 03:00 hours

·  Lower Red Zone 23:00 hours until 04:00 hours

In conclusion, the review supported the recommendation that the overall City Centre Cumulative Impact Area and the areas designated as red zones within it remained appropriate.

During discussions, the Committee considered the following matters:

·  The partnership work undertaken to encourage reporting of sexual offences and initiatives including the implementation of “safe spaces”, bystander training and “walk safe” App.

·  There had been increased publicity around drink spiking and the number of reported incidents had fallen. WYP carried testing kits but the uptake was reported to be low.

·  The impact of crime and anti-social behaviour on city residents and the stability of city centre communities

·  The work undertaken with WYP and prospective premise licence holders to encourage a different style of licensed premises in the city to bring a different demographic to the area, such as day-time venues. However, it was acknowledged that such ventures were not often successful.

·  The impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on the licensed trade – during lockdown many experienced staff left the hospitality trade for other careers and have not returned.

·  The work of other agencies in the city to support visitors to the night-time economy – including Safer Leeds and Street Angels, and the role of BACIL (Business Against Crime In Leeds) - which all night-time economy businesses subscribe to and funds night time stewards and a communications network between venues.

·  The liaison undertaken by the Entertainment Licensing team with colleagues in other cities to share best practice.

The Committee also supported a suggestion for Members to undertake a city centre night time walking site visit later in the year.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the City Centre Cumulative Impact Assessment 2024.