Caborn warns local authorities to work with trade

Licensing minister Richard Caborn has laid down the gauntlet to local authorities on the implementation of the Licensing Act.

Speaking at a conference this week he warned local authorities that the new regime will only be effective if they work in partnership with the licensed trade.

He criticised some authorities, claiming they had failed to be effective in dealing with new legislation and called on them to ensure businesses were not burdened by the new regime.

Mr Caborn said: "I can't tell local authorities what to do, I can only give them the tools. We want to reassure people that the legislation is in place. But at the same time I don't want to see that businesses that are being run correctly bearing the burden."

Rick Robinson, licensee at the Willoughby Arms, Kingston, said: "I do feel the emphasis of this is on the licensee, and that has to change. If my local authority approached me and said it would like to organise a seminar to discuss it I would definitely go."

A poll on thePublican.com found that 66 per cent of licensees were in the dark over the act, while only 31 per cent claimed that their local authority was doing its best with regard to the act.

Mr Caborn also confirmed the timetable for the new regime. He said he was hopeful the guidance would be passed through Parliament by the end of April. The minister expects the act to come into force by July 2005.

Related articles:​

Guidance to Licensing Act published (23 March 2004)