The council is required to review its licensing policy every five years, and this is the latest draft: Draft Statement of Licensing Policy. A consultation is now running for this new draft of the licensing policy and will expire on 12 September 2023.
In addition, where an authority is concerned about the number of licensed premises in an area and its effect it needs to publish a Cumulative Impact Assessment. The council has concerns about the town centre and Oxford Road area and will seek to publish a Cumulative Impact Assessment for the area to be known as ‘The Town Centre and Oxford Road Cumulative Impact Area’, as its view is that licensing in these areas needs to be reviewed.
For more details on the proposed assessment please visit www.reading.gov.uk/business/licences/alcohol-and-entertainment-licences/consultation-reading-borough-councils-statement-of-licensing-policy-cumulative-impact-policy/
If you wish to make comment on the assessment or the council’s updated licensing policy then you can do so via email to licensing@reading.gov.uk on or before 12 September 2023.