Review of permitted opening hours of licensed late hours catering establishments in Highland

The public is invited to comment on a review being made by the Highland Licensing Committee of the permitted opening hours of licensed late hours catering establishments in the Highlands. The deadline for responses is 5 pm on 31 August.
 
A late hours catering licence is required between the hours of 11.00pm and 5.00am for the sale to or consumption by the public of meals or refreshments. (From 1 October 2012 food will replace meals and refreshments in this definition).
 
The current policy of permitting opening until 3.00am in Inverness City Centre on Thursday, Friday and Saturday was first agreed by the former Inverness Nairn Badenoch and Strathspey Licensing Committee in 2007 and has been adopted and maintained by the Highland Licensing Committee since then.
 
Licensing Committee Chairman Councillor Maxine Smith said: “At our June meeting, we received a request to extend beyond Thursday, Friday and Saturday the days on which late night opening hours should operate. This gives  the new members of the committee the opportunity to review the policy and agree a way forward that takes account of the views of the trade, emergency services, local businesses, community councils and the general public. Representations are welcomed on any aspect of our policy.  Evidence in support of responses is encouraged.”
 
There are 9 late hours catering premises in Inverness city centre.  They are able to remain open until 3.00 am on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 1 am on Sundays and midnight for the rest of the week.
 
In Fort William, there is one late hours catering premise, which is able to remain open until 2 am  (April – October) and midnight for the rest of the year. In five premises in Wick, four in Thurso and one in Dingwall, the licence ends at midnight.
 
A condition of the licence is to:

In particular, the Committee is looking for responses to the following four questions: 

Responses should be in writing and submitted to Alaisdair Mackenzie, Legal Manager, The Highland Council, Tigh na Sgire, Park Lane, Portree, Isle of Skye IV51 9GP by 5.00pm on 31 August 2012.