b'Chapter 17 Consumer Protection General licensing functions 17.1 This chapter is concerned with general licensing functions of local authorities. There have been some licensing powers contained in earlier chapters where they seemed to fit more appropriately. Over the years, licensing functions have been the subject of deregulation measures and have been consolidated to an extent. Licensing is big business both from the potential licencees perspective, as a licence generally is a necessity before carrying on business. Also, from the authoritys point of view, determining licence applications generates significant income in terms of fees and charges, although much of this is now prescribed by central government either by individual statutory instruments itemising charges or by way of nationally adopted formulae which leave little scope for local or regional variation. Licensing functions of local authorities are many and varied and this chapter is only meant to be a signpost to the main powers. Explosives etc 17.2 The licensing and regulation of gunpowder stores is now governed by the Explosives Regulations 2014 (SI 2014/1638) (replacing the Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations 2005 (SI 2005/1082)). Under regulation 14(12) an applicant for a licence must pay a fee to the local authority which must not exceed the costs incurred by the authority. A fee is payable under the Health and Safety and Nuclear (Fees) Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/363) for a licence to manufacture or store explosives or registration for the storage of explosives. Licences and registrations for the storage of smaller quantities of explosives are granted by the local authority or the police.Slaughterhouses 17.3 London boroughs, the City of London and any district have powers under the Slaughterhouses Act 1974 to grant licences and applications for slaughterhouses. Sections 16 (as amended by SI 1996/2235) and 17 enable local authorities who have provided a public slaughterhouse to, amongst other things, provide plant or apparatus for the disposal, treatment or processing of waste matters, refuse or by-products resulting from the slaughter of animals, and enables a local authority who has provided a public slaughterhouse to make charges according to levels to be determined by it from time to time in respect of the use of the slaughterhouse or of any services provided there. The charges must be published by it in accordance with the Act.166'