Labour councillors banned from wine bar over fees

The owner of a bar in York has barred Labour city councillors from his premises in protest against outdoor seating charges.

Steve Wood, of Plonkers Wine Bar, in Cumberland Street, said the yearly £350 pavement licence fee had added to the pressure on independent businesses.

He said he hoped the ban would encourage councillors to issue licences for two years rather than one, in line with government guidance.

However, councillor Rachel Melly, Labour's licensing committee chair, said the authority could not afford to change the system, which she said already costs more to run than the money it brings in.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the ban comes after some pubs said they would not serve the Labour MPs over concerns about rising business rates - though ministers have since announced a 15% discount from April.

Wood said although the council could not do anything about business rates and National Insurance hikes, it did have control over pavement licence costs.

He said staff would be told to ask Labour councillors to leave until the council's policy changes.

York Council charges businesses £500 when they are granted pavement licences and £350-a-year to renew them.

Officials also check that businesses have the correct insurance and that they have completed counter-terror training.

The government encourages councils to issue licences for the maximum two years allowed by law in its guidance on licences but they are not required to.

North Yorkshire Council issues two-year licences along with Liverpool, Plymouth, Derby, Oxford and others.

York is among councils including Leeds, Birmingham and Nottingham which issue licences for one year.

Wood said: "It's small independent businesses like Plonkers that make York what it is, which is why we're making a stand.

"My business rates and National Insurance costs are already going up, my numbers are down by about 7% year-on-year.

"I'm lucky because I own the building, but if I had to pay commercial rent my business wouldn't be viable."

He insisted the move was not about party politics but something had to be done to keep the bar open.

Melly said the owner misunderstood how policy decisions were made and the council was currently subsidising the cost of pavement licences which were ultimately being covered by local tax payers.

She said: "Policy decisions are made by the non-party political Licensing Committee, while fees and licence durations are reviewed annually and approved as part of the council's budget setting meeting every February.

"As a low-funded council, we cannot afford to increase this subsidy.

"The council made the decision to renew pavement café licenses annually for the main reason that it allows for frequent reviews of how public space is being used and to ensure key routes remain clear and accessible.

"We felt the decision struck the right balance between supporting businesses to expand their capacity into the pavement, while ensuring that the layout of furniture doesn't hinder the public's ability to move around freely."

The Government has been contacted for further comment.

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