Trade voices concern over Licensing Bill guidance

Hopes that the national guidance issued for the new Licensing Bill would clear up concerns about local authority control were dashed this week.​ The first draft of the document, which has been released by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, has been criticised by the trade as being too long and over complicated at more than 100 pages.

Trade associations have already issued a list of amendments and are currently in negotiations with the government on how to simplify the document.

The concern for the industry is that such a complex document will add to the bureaucracy involved in implementing the new Licensing Bill.

The national guidance has been produced to outline the procedures that all local authorities must follow in administering the new licensing laws as well as outlining the responsibilities of the licensed trade.

Tony Payne, of the Federation of Licensed Victuallers' Associations, said: "We hoped that the system was going to be simplified but it looks like too much information for licensees."

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) is also concerned over the length of the document.

Spokeswoman Karen Kelshaw said: "The guidance is a draft document at the moment. We are sitting on working groups with the government and there are still a lot of changes to be made. Our main area of concern is the length."

Meanwhile Richard Williams, from The Publican's legal team at London solicitors Joelson Wilson, is concerned that discussions over the guidance notes could delay the bill through Parliament.

"We are concerned that this guidance should have been issued at the same time as the bill. The Lords has requested more guidance and this could put the bill back by a couple of months."

But culture secretary Tessa Jowell has said that the guidance notes would be subject to change and further development following consultation with Parliament, stakeholders and other government departments and agencies.