The transfer window has now closed!
The 6th August saw the passing of the deadline for existing licensees to transfer their liquor licences from the Courts to the local licensing authority.
Now that the transitional period has closed, Wealden District Council is reminding those that have missed the opportunity to convert their licences that there is only a short time left to apply for a new licence. The same deadline also applied to public entertainment, cinema and theatre licences and those relating to late night refreshment.
By the 7th August a total of 466 premises licence and 498 personal licence applications had been received. This represents some 86% of all Wealden’s known licensed premises.
On the 24th November 2005, all existing liquor licences issued by the Courts and those other licences issued by the local authority will cease to have any effect and anyone selling or supplying alcohol, providing regulated entertainment or late night refreshment will have to be in possession of the appropriate personal and premises licences under the Licensing Act 2003.
Whilst the 24th November might seem like a long time away, Wealden District Council is reminding the trade that any application for a new licence has to be properly advertised and a consultation period of 28 days has to be allowed.
Following that, if there are any representations made, the Council has to arrange a Licensing Sub-Committee hearing within 20 working days. Wealden is therefore urging the trade to submit their application by Friday 23rd September at the latest. Failure to meet this deadline could mean that the premises will be unlicensed on the 24th November and will have to stop their licensing activities.
Councillor Jim Hollins, Chair of the Council’s Liquor and Entertainments Licensing Committee said, “ We have been repeatedly warning the trade that they need to get their act together and make application for their licences by the due dates. Many premises have heeded our warnings and we are now processing those that have been received. However there are a number of premises that have failed, for whatever reason, to act in time. The operators of those premises will get no more warnings. It’s their business and their livelihood that’s at stake and if they don’t apply soon they run the risk of enforcement action being taken. In some cases this will happen just before Christmas.”
Head of Licensing and Pollution Control, John Gallop, explained that the Council’s active publicity and committed team of Licensing Officers had ensured that Wealden District Council had fared better than many other local authorities in terms of the proportion of premises applications received during the transitional phase.
“Our firm but fair approach to this new licensing regime has meant that we have a better chance of completing the transfer of Wealden’s premises and personal licences on time and with the minimum of inconvenience to the trade,” he said.
