Publicans still in the dark over licence costs
Pubs are not expected to discover the cost of the new licensing regime until the autumn - despite publication of the timetable for the new law earlier this month.
The first appointed day from which venues can apply for the new personal and premises licences, has now been set for February 7, 2005.
The second appointed day is now expected to fall at the beginning of November 2005.
Trade leaders met with the Department for Culture Media & Sport (DCMS) last week to discuss the new timetable - but fees were not on the agenda.
The DCMS said a consultation document including details of the application forms is now expected to emerge in August.
But two sources have suggested that a separate consultation on the fees will not now be published until September.
Last year the DCMS suggested licensees could expect fees of around £30 for the personal licence and between £100 and £500 for the premises licence, as well as an annual charge of up to £100.
Bill Sharp, spokesman for the Guild of Master Victuallers, said: "It's got to the stage where everyone is disappointed with the progress."
"It's frustrating as the DCMS has had enough advice from the trade with regards to whether we can afford to pay the fees."
Mark Hastings, communications director at the British Beer & Pub Association, added: "If people are planning budgets they need to know details as far in advance as possible. It is enormously frustrating that we are still plodding towards a conclusion."
Announcing the arrangements at a conference last week, DCMS head of licensing Andrew Cunningham said the fees were the biggest remaining issue still to be decided.
Related articles:
Licensing Act timetable confirmed (7 July 2004)
