Reform delay fears increase

Trade experts have expressed fears that the date of the First Appointed Day for the Licensing Act could be pushed back following the failure of the Department for Culture Media & Sport (DCMS) to publish the regulations and confirm fees.

The regulations, which include the vital application forms needed during the transitional period, which starts on the First Appointed Day of 7 February, were due to be published in December but have yet to appear.

Morning Advertiser legal correspondent Peter Coulson said: "It's absolutely ridiculous. There's a strong sense that there might be a postponement.

Coulson also expressed doubts that all licensing authorities will meet tomorrow's deadline for publishing the final version of their licensing policies.

"There are 400 councils in England and Wales and they all have to be finalised, voted on and passed. No one has any figures but there's a strong suggestion that these will not be passed by Friday [the deadline]."

Trish O'Flynn, spokeswoman for licensing at the Local Government Association, said: "If [the publication of the regulations] is delayed much more then it could become a real issue.

"We have already flagged up with the Government that they need to look at the feasibility of the First Appointed Day being on 7 February. Every day that goes by, I become less confident."

DCMS spokeswoman Kate Pike said the regulations would be issued shortly, and the consultation for the fees was only finished on 22 December, and was still being discussed. But she said she was confident the DCMS was still on track with the timetable for reform.

l Coulson's view ­ p13