Deadline Met

LGS.uk successfully submitted all applications by the deadline of the 6 August. MD Ian Webster said he was delighted with the response of staff to ensure this crucial deadline was achieved for all clients. We even received a distraught call on the Wednesday before the deadline but we managed to produce the application and hand deliver to the Council on the Friday afternoon.

Fees Panel

The Government has set up a panel to review the charges for the licensing process. The terms of the Panel are:

• consider whether the fees cover the full cost to licensing authorities
• identify the scale, extent and nature of any problems
• make recommendations about how the existing fee structure and levels could be developed
• ensure best practice is being fully realised across all authorities

identify how the regime could be developed to address any other issues, which will include the impact of the structure of the fee scales on community amateur sports clubs, village and community halls.

The Panel should issue an interim review around October and the final report in autumn 2006.

Court Decision

Mr Justice Richards has ruled that the Canterbury Council Licensing policy is unlawful because of the risk that applicants reading it would assume that a number of “suggestions” where mandatory. He described the policy as “over-prescriptive in a number of places”

Council Policies Unlawful

The Judge hearing the case brought by the BBPA against Canterbury’s Licensing Policy has announced that sections of the Policy. Details to follow when judgement is published.

Matthew Pink

LGS.uk is pleased to welcome Matthew Pink onboard to help with our range of training programmes and formal assessments. The author of the ‘Good Practice Guide on Licensing’ and ‘Licensing and Club Law’ Matthew is a Solicitor with vast range of experience in Licensing Law. This experience includes being Editor of ‘Paterson’s Licensing Acts’ (97th-102nd editions inclusive), a Member of National Licensing Forum and an Approved BII trainer for the new NCPLH courses. Matthews knowledge and style will ensure that all delegates receive the appropriate training for their needs.

Second Appointed Day

The start date for the new law has been set at the 24 November 2005. On this day ALL existing Justices, PEL, Cinema and Theatre licences will cease to be valid and anyone without a new Licensing Act 2003 licence will have to cease trading.