Call to tackle antisocial behaviour with late-night levy
A call has been made for a tax on drinking venues in Wokingham after fights and anti-social behaviour incidents in the town centre.
According to Police.uk data, there were 59 violence and sexual offence crimes, 19 antisocial behaviour incidents and reported in Wokingham in December last year.
And last month, there was an incident near The Gig House pub in Erftstadt Court, in which two people were injured.
Ki Alvis Of Lee, 23, of Carey Road, Wokingham, was charged with two counts of wounding with intent, and will appear at Reading Crown Court on Monday, March 21.
A 23-year-old man from Frimley, was arrested on suspicion of possession of a bladed article in a public place, using threatening/abusive language to cause harassment and attempting to cause GBH with intent.
There has also been reports of anti-social behaviour from car meets taking place in the Carnival multi-storey car park over several weekends.
The incidents and anti-social behaviour has led to a call for a late night levy to help fund policing and the council’s own efforts in managing the night time economy.
It would apply for venues open from midnight to 6am, with at least 70% going to Thames Valley Police and the remainder going to the council.
At a meeting of Wokingham Borough Council’s licensing and appeals committee held on Wednesday, March 2, Cllr Imogen Shepherd-DuBey (Liberal Democrats, Emmbrook and also Wokingham Town Council leader) said: “Wokingham Town has been experiencing a considerable amount of anti-social behaviour revolving around people leaving the bars that have a late licence.
“This can be as simple as noisy behaviour and broken glass around the town from people heading home to fighting and a recent stabbing incident.
“Wokingham Borough Council has the power to recover a late licence levy on premises that have a late licence – essentially to cover the cost of extra policing and support from problems that arise from late licences.
“Is this something that we can ask the licencing team to consider?”
The levy is based on the rateable value of a business, but the chairman of the committee, Cllr Barrie Patman (Conservative, Shinfield South), said introducing it now would not be cost effective, as the council would have to pay for a consultation and the administration of the scheme.
Several venues in Wokingham open regularly after midnight. They include The Gig House, which is open until 3am on Friday and Saturday nights, and The Station Tap, which is open until midnight Sunday to Wednesday,
1am on Thursday and 2am on Friday and Saturday nights. The Red Lion is open until 2am on Fridays and Saturday, while The Roebuck in Market Place is open until midnight. The Hope and Anchor stays open until 1am on Saturdays.
Cllr Patman said: “If a venue is not well run, we can review its licence.
“However, our statement of licensing policy, due for renewal in 2023, states that a late night levy could be considered if the need arises, so I see no reason why a late night levy could not at least be considered in the review of the licensing policy.”
He pointed out that, since the levy was introduced in 2012, only a dozen councils charge it. Cheltenham introduced a levy in 2014, but axed it three years later, after it did not receive the funds it had expected.
To help, the council will be hiring an anti-social behaviour team Cllr Patman said would work until 2am. They will be part of the council’s policy to bring public protection matters, including anti-social behaviour, back under its control from next month.
But Cllr Shepherd-DuBey said this team would be finishing “too early” as the majority of incidents occur between 2am to 4am.
Cllr Patman said that the 2am finishing time for the team had not been “cast in stone yet” so the committee could make recommendations on how the team operates when details for how it will work are agreed.