Trade leaders: Government in denial over licensing crisis

The Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) is in "denial" over the licensing crisis, trade leaders and councillors claimed at an emergency summit this week.​ Westminster City Council, solicitors and trade associations debated the turmoil facing the industry due to the lack of licence applications at the meeting in London.

Cllr Audrey Lewis, who heads up licensing for Westminster, accused the licensing minister James Purnell of being "badly advised" and called for the start date of November 24 to be put back.

She said: "'The DCMS in denial' is a good way to describe the situation they find themselves in. Our problems are not with the Act but with the implementation of it."

According to the figures discussed at the meeting many representatives were predicting that only 45 per cent of applications for grandfather rights will be presented by the August 6 deadline.

This means more than half of pubs across the country will lose their rights to convert their existing licences.

However, during a debate in the House of Commons this week Mr Purnell suggested a "very significant number" of pubs and clubs will meet a deadline to apply for new licences and he had "no intention" of delaying the November 24 introduction of new flexible drinking hours.

The senior civil servant heading up licensing at the DCMS, Andrew Cunnningham, also recently claimed that a crisis was not inevitable.

The shadow culture secretary, Theresa May, accused the government of "burying its head in the sand" and ignoring the impending crisis.

John McNamara, chief executive of the BII, said: "If we are lucky we will have 45 per cent of applications in. Then what do we do?

"Let's sort it out. I want to see the November 24 date extended but those who have already put in their applications must benefit."

Christine Milburn, communications manager for the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA), said: "It was a constructive meeting."

However, the BBPA does not support pushing the date back from November 24 as "it's not fair on the people who have conscientiously put their applications in", she added.

The high number of wrongly filled in applications were also highlighted at the meeting.

Licensees are being warned to make sure they sign the forms, send a copy of their existing licence, identify the designated premises supervisor and copy the form to the police.