DCMS attacked over licensing guidance delay

By James Wilmore

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Licensing act License Councillor

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has come under fire for a further delay over the guidance to the Licensing Act. A 12-week public...

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has come under fire for a further delay over the guidance to the Licensing Act.

A 12-week public consultation was due to take place over the summer, as part of a review of the guidance. But the terms of the consultation have yet to be decided and no date has been set for its release. It was hoped this would iron out some of the more contentious issues such as a single renewal date for licences.

Westminster City Council has hit out at the delay. Cllr Audrey Lewis, the council's cabinet member for licensing, said: "It's just a nuisance. There are aspects of our policy that we need to get on with and update.

"We wanted to clear up some anomalies and ambiguities, but we can't do that. We were hoping to get on with it."

"I suppose the fact that the government is running about six months late could mean that they are trying to get it right this time.

"However, I seem to remember that every aspect of the development of the Licensing Act was done late without much apparent benefit to its quality."

The first stage of the revised guidance came into force in June, which confirmed that a personal licence holder did not have to be on the premises at all times.

Martin Rawlings, director of pub and leisure at the British Beer & Pub Association, said he had been expecting the second part of the guidance to be released in this month. But he added: "We would rather that we get a decent document and they get it right, rather than it being rushed."

A spokeswoman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said: "We hope the review will be this side of Christmas."

Related topics Legislation

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