Green Party Councillor, Tom Druitt, on local businesses and ‘fast track’ pavement licences

Latest TV News Editor, Mark Walker, speaks to the Green Party Councillor for the Regency Ward, and the Joint Deputy Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee, Tom Druitt.

Tom disccuses changes to planning and licensing laws, which he told Latest TV should help the city’s hospitality industry recover from the coronavirus lockdown.

The UK Government’s Business and Planning Bill makes it easier for premises serving food and drink, such as bars, restaurants and pubs, to seat and serve customers outdoors.
The Bill introduces a new, temporary, ‘fast-track process’ to enable businesses to obtain pavement licences, and place tables and chairs on the public highway outside their premises to help them increase trade while complying with physical distancing guidelines.

The new temporary licences can be issued in 14 days, rather than the current 28 day period.

They would normally cost £100 but, in order to help businesses further, we have agreed to suspended fees until April next year.

The temporary legislation will last until 30th September, 2021.