Trade chief says Act guidance is still too complex

The licensing guidance should be cut further to help reduce the reams of red tape still surrounding the Act, according to one trade leader.

Following the publication of the Licensing Act supplementary guidance last week, Martin Rawlings, director of pub and leisure at the British Beer & Pub Association, said the new version was "helpful" but there was still more to be done.

The updated version is now 188 pages long - four longer than the original.

A consultation on some of the more controversial issues raised by the new regime is expected to be launched before the end of July.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has confirmed it hopes to carry out the consultation over the summer.

Mr Rawlings said: "We welcome this first attempt to clarify some of the guidance and make it up to date. We look forward to a further rationalisation of the document.

"It's still too long and much more about how the system works."

When the new guidance was published licensing minister Shaun Woodward called on local authorities to support live music. He said: "Live venues are the heart of many communities. That's why we gave them greater opportunities to put on live entertainment, such as music and dancing, under the licensing laws. But we need to make sure local councils are promoting these opportunities and venue owners are taking advantage of them."

In the guidance, councils are asked to place only proportionate conditions on live venues and to consult local musicians and venue owners regularly, to monitor the impact of the new licensing laws on live music. If they find live events are not thriving, local councils should look again at their licensing policies.

He added: "The new licensing laws have been in place for six months. But it's still too soon to draw any conclusions. We will continue to monitor the impact of the Act throughout this year and beyond."

However, Liberal Democrat spokesman Don Foster MP is critical of the government's move.

He said: "The long-delayed guidance follows the government form of missed deadlines, missed opportunities and

mistakes on licensing.

"While the renewed emphasis on live music is welcome,

ministers should consider more radical options, such as exemptions for small music venues.

"The temporary events notice regime must also be clarified urgently as councils and gig organisers often have little idea of how it should be implemented."