A temporary free licensing scheme for pavement cafés, designed to help Covid-hit Belfast, is set to continue for another year despite complaints from waste collectors, city street cleaners and neighbouring businesses.
At Belfast City Council ’s Licensing Committee this week, elected members voted for a year long extension to the free temporary licensing scheme, against the advice of council officers, who promoted the option of returning to a fixed five year licensing scheme, with fees totalling £445 over the period.
The scheme was introduced to assist the hospitality sector during the pandemic as the council had not yet implemented 2016 legislation “due to the lack of technical guidance” from Stormont.
