Council praised for its approach to licensing

A Dover licensee has heaped praise on his local council for its handling of the new licensing regime - including dating all licences from November 25, 2005.

While many local authorities have struggled to cope with the new regime, Dover District Council has been hailed by a local licensee for its positive approach.

As well as granting licences from the Second Appointed Day - saving publicans from having to pay their next annual fees until November 2006 - the council consulted widely on its licensing policy and granted licences without any onerous conditions.

Peter Garstin, licensee of Blakes of Dover, said that during the transition to the new system the council had been on hand to give advice and help pubs in the area, meaning they were able to fill out their own applications.

"The council was struggling with an unfamiliar system and I can't think they could have done better," he said.

Mr Garstin added that if licensees wanted to extend their hours they could go down to the council offices and speak to the licensing team.

Dover District Council said it had taken the opinion that it was fairer for licensees to be granted their licences from November 25 and got its last certificate posted out on Nov-ember 23 to ensure all were trading legally.

The council also considered it imperative that it gave one-to-one support to the 400 premises applying for their licences.

Tony Bartlett, licensing manager said: "We ran a series of seminars to help pubs through the application process.

"It was something totally new and it was unfair to expect licensees to get through the bureaucracy of the Act."

The council undertook a customer survey among licensees and received 154 responses where 41 licensees rates it highly, 49 very good, 17 good, seven satisfactory and one poor. "I am peeved about that one but am looking into it!" added Mr Bartlett.

l Had a positive experience with your council? Email news@thepublican.com or call 020 7955 3714.