City Hall Conservatives today have published a landmark report into the London night-time economy which sets out 10 recommendations on how to tackle the crisis facing night-time businesses in the capital.
The report is lead-authored by Emma Best AM, City Hall Conservative Group Deputy Leader, and contains the results of work done over previous months with dozens of industry figures and leaders to identify how the Mayoralty can proactively support nightlife.
Amongst the recommendations on page 5, the report claims that the Night Czar Amy Lamé has lost the confidence of Londoners, and ought to be replaced with a voluntary industry expert. With Lamé's sudden resignation announced yesterday, the Group hopes that her successor - who they say should be an unpaid industry expert - can set about quickly grappling with the scale of the issues facing Londoners and businesses who form the nighttime economy.
The report also recommends that amongst other things:
- The London transport system should be truly 24/7 with an expansion of coverage,
- The Mayor implement a review of women's safety in the capital at night, and implement the findings of this review,
- The Met Police be more proactive on crime to prevent venues having to "self police",
- The Chancellor cut beer duty, VAT, and exempt taxis and private hire vehicles from VAT to help improve margins for businesses which are struggling
- TA £6m Nightlife Prosperity Fund be set up for boroughs to submit bids for projects which improve the night-time economy in their areas
- The Mayor and the new Night Czar recognise the true extent of the crisis facing the night-time economy.
In a statement, Emma Best AM said:
The news that after 8 years of watching London's nightlife decline, Amy Lamé is to resign, is welcome. Abolishing the six-figure position and replacing it with a voluntary advisor like Sacha Lord in Manchester had been one of the headline recommendations in a report I’m launching today with more than a dozen industry stakeholders. Our report lays bare the urgent action needed to revitalise our capital’s nightlife and I regret only that this news will take some of the attention away from the 9 other recommendations which if implemented would transform the night-time economy. I hope it is not the case that an embargoed copy of the report made it to Amy's desk and she decided resultantly to do this, and I hope that her successor - if indeed there is one - will engage with us productively to get to the bottom of the crisis facing night-time businesses in London.
The resignation of Amy Lamé cannot be the Mayor's parachute to enable him to pretend as though this decision will somehow fix the problems with London nightlife. As our report says; we still need a public transport system that works 24/7 and with greater coverage, a move aways from draconian licensing restrictions, safety measures particularly protecting women, and pro-active policing to help venues ensure their own security. The departure of the Night Czar is not a solution in itself, but rather an opportunity for Sadiq Khan to demonstrate that he understands now what our great city needs if it is to thrive against the backdrop of dozens of venues closing monthly in London.
Lamé's shock 4pm resignation on Wednesday after eight years in the role has re-ignited the debate around what function she serves, after it was revealed almost a million pounds has been spent on her salary despite record venue closures in London - with as many as 25% of venues closing since she was first appointed in 2016.
