LGA backs Private Member’s Bill proposing changes to how licensing hours orders are made
The Local Government Association (LGA) has urged MPs to use a private member’s bill now before Parliament as a vehicle to modernise local authority licensing.
Labour MP Andrew Ranger has introduced the Licensing Hours Extensions Bill to change how licensing hours orders are made under the Licensing Act 2003.
It would allow these to be made by negative resolution statutory instrument, which the LGA said – in a briefing issued before the Bill’s second reading in the House of Commons – would simplify the process for temporarily relaxing licensing hours on special occasions.
It said that councils had faced situations where temporary extensions to licensing hours could not be agreed in time during recent celebrations for major sporting finals or royal events.
One important football game on a Sunday morning took place while many pubs would be closed and Parliament was in recess, “leaving councils under great pressure to either grant applications outside the law or else turn an improper blind eye to non-compliant openings”.
The LGA said there were further critical licensing reforms that could be added to the Bill.
Licensing fees had not risen since 2007, leaving councils unable to recover the costs of their statutory duties and leaving many making a loss on these.
Councils should be empowered to set fees based on local conditions, the LGA said, with flexibility to determine fees based on local factors.
It also said public health should be added as a fifth licensing objective, so licensing committees could explicitly consider health impacts of applications.
Including public health would align the licensing system with broader public policy objectives and help promote healthier, more resilient communities.
Amending the law to allow cumulative impact assessments would address more easily issues of over-concentration of licensed premises.
The LGA concluded: “We urge policymakers also to seize this opportunity to address the broader issues outlined above.
“These reforms are critical to ensuring that local licensing authorities can sustainably deliver their statutory responsibilities and better support their communities.”
Mark Smulian
