Premises Licence
The Act amalgamates six existing licensing regimes, covering the sale and supply of alcohol, the provision of regulated entertainment and the provision of late night refreshment, replacing them with a single system of premises licences.
Businesses will be able to apply for a single Premises Licence to cover all the licensable activities they wish to carry on. Hearings on an application will only occur where representations from interested parties or responsible authorities are made.
New premises licences will not be time limited (unless requested), nor subject to renewal every three years, as is currently the case for liquor licences or have a duration of only a year, as is currently the case for public entertainment licences.
A Premises Licence may be applied for in respect of premises that are open to the public to allow the premises to be used for different licensable activities, including the supply of alcohol, regulated entertainment and late night refreshment.
The Act provides that an application for a new licence or an application to vary a converted licence will be granted unless a relevant representation about that application is made by an interested party (for example a resident or business) or a responsible authority (for example the police or fire authority).
If a representation is made about an application and the matter cannot be resolved by negotiation, a sub-committee of Lancaster City Council’s Licensing Act Committee will hold a hearing where the application and the representation(s) will be heard and a decision made as to whether the application should be granted, modified or rejected. After the hearing, reasons for the decision will be given.
A Premises Licence is granted for the life of the business and not periodically renewable (as is the case under the current system). Instead, if there are problems with a Premises Licence there can be a review.
If granted the Premises Licence will be subject to conditions:
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Mandatory Conditions – No supply of alcohol unless there is a designated premises supervisor; where films are exhibited film classifications must be observed; and where the premises licence includes a door supervision condition it must also require the door supervisors to be licensed by the Security Industry Authority
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Conditions offered in the Operating Schedule
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Conditions imposed at a hearing as a result of a representation