Licence crisis for the nation's pubs
by Tony Halstead Confusion over the introduction of the new Licensing Act is being blamed for the unprecedented number of failures to apply for three-yearly licence renewals across the country. Hundreds of licensees face the prospect of seeing their bars closed down next month after failing to renew their liquor licences at last month's triennial Brewster sessions Trade leaders fear hosts may not have bothered to apply for new licences in the mistaken belief there was no need in view of the imminent transfer of responsibility to local authorities. In the Bradford and Keighley area of west Yorkshire no less than 279 licensees out of a total of 816 premises failed to renew. The situation is also critical in Nottingham with a reported 315 renewal failures out of 2,000 licensed outlets across the district. Confusion about the new Licensing Act, where vital guidance notes are now almost eight months overdue, could account for the huge rise in non renewals. The Nottingham number is double the figure that was reported at the last renewal sessions three years ago. Morning Advertiser legal editor Peter Coulson said: "Many licensees have already received correspondence from local councils requesting information in respect of the new licensing system and a lot of them could have become confused as a result. "There are always licensees who forget to renew but I have never experienced numbers on this scale," he said. In the early stage of reform it was also thought that licensees would not need to apply for renewals in 2004 with local authority control imminent. Coulson added: "A lot of people got the impression last year that there would be no Brewster Sessions this year." Beda (Bar Entertainment & Dance Association) chief executive Jon Collins said the delays to the reform process were now a major embarrassment to the Government. But he added: "This sort of delay is not uncommon when you appreciate the numbers of different departments and ministers who want an input and have to sign things off. "However, we have now been waiting eight months for the guidance and the trade is in virtual limbo." Federation of Licensed Vic-tuallers chief executive Tony Payne said: "The Bradford figure is an amazing one. I have been in the trade for more than 20 years but can never recall so many licensees from one area failing to renew." Original renewal letters went out to all licensees from most licensing courts across the UK in November advising them to apply for renewals by the date of the February Brewster Sessions. In many areas defaulting hosts are being given a second chance to apply but if they miss this deadline they face the prospect of their bars going dry from the expiry of the current licence in early April to the next transfer sessions in May. Other areas are reporting less of a problem, although in Liverpool well over 100 licensees out of the city's total of 1,900 missed the first renewal deadline. The Department of Media Culture & Sport said the timetable for the Licensing Act's implementation would follow on from the approval of the guidance notes by Parliament. It said it hoped the guidance would be published "shortly" but was still unable to give a date. The ever-changing timetable What was said in October 2002:
July 2003, the Licensing Act would receive Royal Assent. Guidance notes and fee information would be published
January 2004, licensees would be required to submit their personal and premises licence applications.
July 2004, magistrates would hand over responsibility for licensing to local authorities. Where we are now (best-case scenario):
Guidance notes and fees still not published.
Local authorities will have six months to write their licensing policies after publication.
There will be a six-month transition period, plus three months for personal licences to be approved.
July 2005, or soon after, magistrates will hand over responsibility for licensing to local authorities.
