Nottingham City Council has announced it is revoking a levy on late night licensed premises in a bid to ease the financial pressure on local businesses.
Nottingham’s Late Night Levy was introduced in 2014, levying a charge on licensed premises across the city operating between midnight and 6am.
The funds raised – estimated by the council to be around £67,000 a year – were split between the council and police to tackle late night alcohol-related crime.
The city council decided on Monday that it would end the levy to help support businesses that are struggling in the wake of the pandemic and with the cost-of-living crisis.
Portfolio holder for Neighbourhoods, Safety and Inclusion, Cllr Neghat Khan, said: ‘A lot has changed since the late night levy was introduced eight years ago, with the hospitality industry really struggling during the pandemic – only to be hit by the cost-of-living crisis bringing them higher bills and lower incomes from reduced customer numbers.
‘It was the right time for us to consider whether the levy should be revoked, to ease the financial burden on existing businesses and to help encourage businesses looking to expand or invest in Nottingham’s late night economy.’
The council anticipates that the loss of income will be offset by Nottinghamshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner receiving an extra £13m towards recruiting more Police Officers.
