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Licensing Board Supplementary Policy Consultation, Assessment of Overprovision – NTBCC response May 2025

NTBCC submitted the following in response to the consultation at Statement of Licensing Policy – Assessment of Overprovision – City of Edinburgh Council – Citizen Space on 1 May 2025.

Introduction

1 Your details

First name: New Town & Broughton
Surname: Community Council
Email address: licensing (at) ntbcc.org.uk
Yes, I consent to being contacted about this consultation: Yes

2 Who are you responding as?

I am responding on behalf of an organisation

Organisation details

3 Organisation name & type:

NTBCC Licensing

Community group or organisation

Overprovision policy

4 Should the Board retain an overprovision policy in any localities in the City?

Strongly agree

Please provide reasons for your answer:

The presumption against grant in an area of overprovision has led to higher standards for any business seeking to trade or vary their operations.
Although licences continue to be granted, some end up being reduced in their scope (e.g. terminal hours) when compared to what was requested originally too.

5 To what extent do you agree or disagree that all, or any, of the following localities should be included for all licensed premises, or particular types of premises detailed?

– Old Town, Princes Street and Leith Street – all sales:
Strongly agree

– Tollcross – all sales:
Agree

– Great Junction Street – all sales:
Agree

– South Leith – all sales:
Agree

– Murrayburn and Wester Hailes North – off sales only:
Don’t know

– Restalrig and Lochend – off sales only:
Don’t know

– Muirhouse – off sales only:
Don’t know

Please provide reasons for your answer:

We support an overprovision policy in densely populated and mixed use areas.

6 Are you a representative of residents or license holders in one of these localities?

– Old Town, Princes Street and Leith Street:
Yes

7 To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following proposal: In any localities where it is decided that there is overprovision, for off sales this will apply to all types of premises, and for on sales this will apply to those premises which are considered by the Board to be
“alcohol-led”?

Neither agree nor disagree

Please provide reasons for your answer:

Depends on what the primary function is. For instance, the primary function of a nightclub would be entertainment; yet, activity in those premises would very much remain “alcohol-led”.