Local Outcome 4: Licensing guidance helps to lead the way on safety

Work continues to support local licensed premises on issues including transport arrangements for staff finishing late-night shifts.

East Dunbartonshire Licensing Board has been at the forefront of a nationwide debate over employee safety.

It adopted a Supplementary Statement of Licensing Policy in September 2021 – setting out criteria it may consider when licensed premises apply for later opening hours on a Friday and Saturday, including:

• Ongoing employee training and social responsibility, including late-night transport arrangements for employees
• CCTV and stewarding provision throughout the premises
• First aid provision and facilities
• Availability of written policies and procedures for customer safety, including search policies and the approach taken to patrons who have become unwell or who are vulnerable
• The nature and extent of entertainment provided after midnight.

The Board was praised for its move, with calls for other local authorities to follow suit. Glasgow City Council backed a similar policy in December 2022.

It ties in with Unite the Union’s Get Me Home Safely campaign, supported by Police Scotland.

One of the aims of the Supplementary Policy is to encourage premises to consider staff transport arrangements for those operating late hours. The Licensing Board may take into account staff transport arrangements proposed by premises when considering applications where premises are seeking to operate to 1am or later.

Licensing colleagues from East Dunbartonshire routinely engage with licensed premises, and are confident that the principles of the Supplementary Policy will continue to be promoted and adopted by the trade.

"There has been an extremely positive response to the principles within the Supplementary Statement," said Ann Davie, Depute Chief Executive of the Council.

"Reassuringly, many premises already had the majority of the principles in place, with staff either using their own vehicles or car sharing at the end of shifts, but we will continue to monitor, promote and support to help ensure employee safety.

"East Dunbartonshire has been at the forefront of this important issue and I'm pleased we've helped to contribute to the debate."

The work ties in with the Council's Local Outcomes Improvement Plan, which includes the aim: "East Dunbartonshire is a safe place in which to live, work and visit."