Licensing Minister
Gerry Sutcliffe has today unveiled a range of proposals designed
to cut licensing red tape, which could result in savings of up to
£24 million per year.
The Department has launched a 10 week consultation on the
measures, which would make it easier for people to put on
temporary events if they are rescheduled at short notice. The
plans would also lighten the workload for councils and give
relatives and business partners of licensees who have died more
leeway in applying for an interim licence.
Under the plans, the police would be given a new power to accept
a late Temporary Event Notice where there are no crime and
disorder issues. This would particularly benefit village halls,
schools and voluntary organisations who may have to cancel and
rearrange events at short notice due to unforeseen circumstances
or bad weather.
Relatives and business partners would be given 28 days to apply
for a licence to be reinstated if the licensee dies, is incapable
or becomes insolvent. This would be a significant improvement for
licensees’ families and associates who often do not have time to
arrange the licensee’s affairs within seven days and are then
faced with the cost of applying for a new licence.
The Department also intends to remove the requirement for
councils to revise and republish their Licensing Policy Statement
every three years, replacing it with a requirement to keep the
policy up to date. Councils would only have to consult groups and
organisations affected by a revision, rather than the full list of
required consultees, reducing burdens on organisations like
national trade associations who have sometimes found themselves
commenting on hundreds of statements at once.
Licensing Minister Gerry Sutcliffe said:
“The Licensing Act has streamlined the process considerably but
we are always looking for more ways to get rid of unnecessary
burdens. We want to remove as much red tape as possible for those
organising temporary events – and for those that carry a low risk,
we want to give the police a power to be more flexible when
temporary event notices are submitted late.
“Most of these measures have been put forward to us by the
industry and the proposals today show that we have listened. They
would not only make the process easier for licensees and local
authorities, they could also save a great deal of money too – up
to £24 million each year. At a time when many are tightening their
belts, these changes will be even more welcome.”
Notes to editors 1. The consultation is
available on the DCMS website at: http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/consultations/6498.aspx
2. Subject to the outcome of the consultation, DCMS will seek
to bring in these measures by Legislative Reform Order
(LRO)(amending the Licensing Act 2003). The LRO will be subject to
Parliamentary approval, and DCMS will recommend the affirmative
resolution process.
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Contacts:
DCMS Press Enquiries and Out of hours telephone pager
Phone:
020 7211 6263
Mobile: 07699 751153
NDS.DCMS@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Kirsty McCaskill
Phone: 020 7211 6263
kirsty.mccaskill@culture.gsi.gov.uk