Milton Keynes facing second late-night levy proposal

Milton Keynes could be the first town in the UK to face a second late-night levy proposal, after the first was narrowly rejected by its licensing committee last October.

Thames Valley Police is believed to be preparing to submit a modified second proposal after the first one was rejected by five votes to three.

Details of the bid remain undisclosed, but detective superintendent Barry Halliday is on record as saying that all monies generated by the levy will be handed over to the Safer MK Partnership, a community action group that coordinates crime reduction and other safety activities.

Clare Eames, partner at Poppleston Allen was keen to understand why the late-night levy was being revisited just six months after being rejected.

She said: “What has changed that makes them feel there will be a different outcome?”

The announcement comes in the week Poppleston Allen published research showing a drop in the number of councils considering the introduction of a late-night levy.