AQW 13702/17-22 Written question to the Minister for Communities
To ask the Minister for Communities whether she plans to reopen the Pavement Café Scheme, given the ongoing restrictions related to COVID-19.
Asked by Claire Sugden MLA on 29 January 2021
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 29 January 2021
- Answer due by
- 15 February 2021
- Answered
- 9 February 202111 days after tabling
- Department
- Department for Communities
- Priority question
- No
Answer
As the Pavement Café Scheme falls under the remit of DfC I am providing answer to this question.
Under the Licensing of Pavement Cafés Act (NI) 2014 (the Act), it is the responsibility of each district council to design a pavement café licensing regime appropriate to their area and the Act contains a significant degree of flexibility for councils to respond to local circumstances.
At present, hospitality venues are not permitted to offer outdoor seating for those availing of takeaway services. The current regulations are in place until 5 March 2021. It would be a matter for each district council to then consider whether or not to open any such licensing scheme.