Licensing Authorities

Local authorities charged with issuing Premises licenses and personal licenses are called ‘licensing authorities’. These:

• the council of a district in England,
• the council of a county in England in which there are no district councils,
• the council of a county or county borough in Wales,
• the council of a London borough,
• the Common Council of the City of London,
• the Sub-Treasurer of the Inner Temple,
• the Under-Treasurer of the Middle Temple, orh)
• the Council of the Isles of Scilly.

If the Local Council of the applicant’s residence is not large enough to create a licensing department, it is possible to apply to the nearest licensing authority in the region.

General duties of licensing authorities

A licensing authority must carry out its functions with a view to promote the licensing objectives. A licensing authority must also have regard to its licensing statement and the guidance issued by the Secretay of State.

• Determine and publish its licensing policy for each 5  year periods.
• If needed publish a cumulative impact assessment for 3 years periods.
• Establish a licensing committee consisting of at least ten, but not more than fifteen members.
• Exercise and delegation of functions
• Keep a register for all the applications and the licenses has been issued
• Perform as a responsible authority as
  • Issuing the licenses
  • Making relevant representations to applications for new premises licences and the variation of an existing premises licence;
  • Making applications for the review of a premises licence.