Simon was a member of the Licensing and Public Protection Committee own Birmingham City Council from May 2018 to May 2024. and the city’s Planning Committee from March 2020 to April 2021. He made a reputation of defending of the night time economy. [37]
He described plans for 1,000 flats near Digbeth’s Custard Factory as a “nail in the coffin” for the city’s nightclubs. [38] Speaking to Business Live he added: “The night-time economy is getting hit really hard at the moment during covid-19. If this application does get approved, I will see that as a nail in the coffin, more evidence this city council doesn’t give a damn about the night-time economy.” [39][40]
In May Simon Morrall “laughed out laugh” when Councillors voted to approve plans for a 156-room Marriott Hotel along Horse Fair in the city centre, right next door to the O2 Academy building. This was despite objections being raised by the music venue, which claimed the hotel would have “the potential to adversely affect their future operation due to noise complaints from hotel customers”. [37]
Controversially he also supported the Crane nightclub in Digbeth, after a fatal stabbing. “If we close a venue, not only do we send a message to criminals that they can get away with this, but we amplify them, meaning these instances will simply happen elsewhere”, he commented.[41]
Simon Morrall also declared that he was former nightclub promoter himself.[42]
