Is the licensing authorities power too limited?
The Act provides for applications to be considered by licensing authorities where representations are received from interested parties (local residents and businesses) or responsible authorities (such as the police, fire, health and safety and environmental health officers). Local authorities will have the power, for example, to refuse to grant the licence, exclude from the scope of the licences licensable activities such as entertainment comprising live bands, or modify the conditions of the licence, by, for example, restricting opening hours. These steps can be taken if it is considered necessary to promote the licensing objectives of the Act. Where no representations are made it is only right that a licence application should be dealt with as quickly and as simply as possible as an administrative procedure.
