Ministers may end licence variation adverts
The Government is considering plans to scrap newspaper ads as a way to highlight licence variations.
The Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) is looking at replacing ads with mailshots to
local residents to inform them of plans to vary licences.
The plan was raised by the Bar Entertainment & Dance Association (Beda) executive director Paul Smith at a recent meeting with the DCMS.
DCMS officials raised the prospect in a further meeting with Beda members this week.
The Government is considering making the change using a Regulatory Reform Order, which lets ministers alter parts of existing laws that have proved ineffective.
"We've got it on to the agenda. The DCMS has admitted it is something it is going to consider," said Beda senior consultant Jon Collins.
Collins said mailshots would be better for licensees because they remove the need for costly newspaper ads, which are often not seen by residents anyway.
The idea of replacing newspaper ads with mailshots was also raised during discussions between DCMS and the 10 "Scrutiny Councils" appointed to test the Licensing Act.
Jim Hunter, licensing manager at one of the 10, Taunton Deane Borough Council in Somerset, said around half the councils favoured the use of mailshots over newspaper ads.
Collins said it would be unlikely the move to mailshots would be possible before the end of the year, if DCMS approves of the proposal.
Ministers cannot push for Regulatory Reform Orders until the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill gets Royal Assent.
This will not happen until the autumn at the earliest.
Would you prefer to advertise licence variations via mailshots or newspaper ads? Call John Harrington on 01293 610481 or email us by clicking this link
Your CommentsPeter Burke via email, 17/08/2006This would depend on the critera for mailshots as a Licensing Agent we would not be adverse to any suggestions that would enable the process of an application to run more smoothly.
Ken Nason vai email, 18/08/2006Carried out correctly using a mailshot system could be of benefit to all concerned.
Licensees would be required to have personal contact with their surrounding neighbours and be open to discussions with them before things get as far as appeals and courts.
It would of course require that someone( in LA) provide to each licensed premises the addresses of poperties within their "sphere of influence" to whom they are required to give notice.
As each post code covers some 12 addresses perhaps all those within say three postcodes adjacent to that of the pub might cover?
Whatever is decided it surely has to be better and cheaper than the impersonal, costly system we now enjoy?
Most good licensees surely are already carrying out PR operations with their neighbours anyway.
Robert Feal-Martinez via email, 18/08/2006
I think what we have to consider here is not Licensing in isolation but in conjunction with other LA services such as planning. It is the LA's responsibility to advise residents about planning and this is usually done by posting a planning application notice outside the building and/or if the LA is actively seeking objections they may fly leaf adjacent buildings. If an individual wants to see plans they have to go to council offices.
This is to avoid malicious challenges to planning. If someone has to put themselves out most don't bother. Why should licensing be any different? If residents don't actually have to make an effort the challenges will increase. The ads should be abolished and the LA's do what the regulations stated and that was make applications available on their websites. It's amazing how everyone except licensees seem to be able to ignore the guidance and the Act.
