On Wednesday the Government unveiled its plans to give local residents more control over licensing as part of its Crime and Policing Bill.

The Bill follows extensive consultation over the summer where those involved in the industry commented upon on various different proposals. Many in the industry feel that the proposals were unnecessarily bureaucratic and would make things much more difficult for an industry that had already suffered severely during the recession.

However it appears that the Government is adamant that local communities need to have more power when it comes to licensing decisions. This view leads to (among other things) more people being given the right to object to the grant of licences; essentially anyone who the licensing authority views as competent to make a relevant representation about an application. There is no longer any restriction to living and working in the vicinity. If these proposals become law Joe Public is going to have a big stick with which he may beat the industry hard!

Posted by Nina Best, who specialises in regulatory matters; entertainment licensing; advertising and marketing law; advice and representation on infringement of Food Safety Manufacturing Product Regulations.

Nina Best
0115 976 6529
nbest@brownejacobson.com