Channel Lincolnshire

Councillors experience the night time economy first hand

THE night time economy has come under the spotlight in East Lindsey over the Christmas period, with licensing officials from Lincolnshire Police and East Lindsey District Council visiting a number of high profile venues across the District to get a better understanding of how they are run.

East Lindsey District Council licences 903 premises for alcohol or regulated entertainment and considers around 200 licence changes each year.

Led by Chief Inspector, Daryl Pearce, East Lindsey District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Communities, Councillor Sandra Harrison; Licensing Committee Chairman, Councillor George Horton, and other Licensing Committee Councillors, visited bars and clubs in Skegness, Ingoldmells and Louth late at night as well as the CCTV Control Room, which serves Alford, Horncastle, Louth, Mablethorpe, Sutton on Sea, Ingoldmells, Chapel St Leonards and Skegness from its base at Skegness Police Station.

The Police and District Council work closely through the East Lincolnshire Community Safety Partnership and Councillors are keen to get a clearer insight into how the licensing decisions they make affect the local community and night time economy in the District.

As well as visiting bars and nightclubs, the group also visited Butlins where an 80s reunion was being held for 7,500 people – a major event for the District outside the main holiday season.

Chief Inspector Daryl Pearce explained: “Our tour of Skegness, Ingoldmells and Louth was an ideal opportunity to show the Councillors making the licensing decisions how they work in practice. Councillors were able to experience some of the challenges we face along with the challenges that bar owners themselves face.”

Portfolio Holder for Communities, Councillor Sandra Harrison, said: “The night time economy is so important to East Lindsey and it’s something we must continue to grow in a controlled way. We want to ensure local people and visitors can have a great, but safe, night out in our towns and villages.

“The visit provided us all with the first hand experience we need to make more informed licensing decisions that benefit the business community and those visiting the various venues.

“Although the Council won’t always make the most popular licensing decisions, we will continue to focus squarely on ensuring people are safe when enjoying a night out.”

Channel:Lincolnshire comments

It is assume that the night time economy means those places where alcohol is consumed.  The council seem to consider that growth in this area is to be encouraged? Why?

Does it provide good jobs for people with families, does it encourage the best of people?  Perhaps not. 

It does provide high margins for business and too often it creates noise, intimidation and violence.

There is no simple panacea for creating jobs on the East Coast which is presently highly reliant upon tourism.

What do you think?