Shropshire Council

Statement of Licensing Policy 2019 – 2024

  • Period: 25 June 2018 - 02 September 2018
  • Status: Closed
  • Audiences: Everyone
  • Topics: Licensing and applications
  • Type: Public

Why are we consulting?

Under the Licensing Act 2003, the council is the licensing authority and is responsible for licensing and overseeing licensable activities as set out in the act. The act requires us to prepare and publish a statement of licensing policy with respect to its licensing functions at least every five years.

Our current Statement of Licensing Policy came into effect on the 1 April 2014 and will cease to have effect on the 31 March 2019. We must be in a position to formally adopt a revised policy with effect from 1 April 2019.  In order to satisfy the specific legal requirements set down in the act, we need to carry out a consultation process on the proposed Statement of Licensing Policy from 25 June 2018 to 2 September 2018.

In addition to the Statement of Licensing Policy, we're also consulting on our ‘Premises Licence Applications – Completing the Operating Schedule and Plan of the Premises Guidance’. The proposed guidance aims to assist applicants and existing licence holders to meet the requirements of the policy. Whilst there is no specific legal requirement in the act to consult on the supporting guidance, because the guidance and the policy are inextricably linked we're consulting on the guidance at the same time as undertaking the policy consultation, to ensure that all stakeholders are fully aware of the policy and practical approach that we intend to adopt over the next five years.

What does the revised policy seek to achieve?

We've taken the opportunity to significantly revise the format and content of the policy to reflect the latest guidance issued under the act, and amendments made to the act itself since the current policy was adopted. The policy also provides practical clarity to existing and potential licence holders, and assists our officers to correctly apply the legal provisions of the Licensing Act 2003.

A local area profile has also been created and is incorporated into the draft Licensing Act Policy Statement 2019 – 2024; it can be found at Appendix B of the draft policy, attached to this page. The profile maps local areas of concern, including actual and future emerging evidence-based risks that may impact on the licensing of premises and licensable activities. Existing and potential licensees are encouraged to use the profile to help inform them of specific risks prior to submitting licence applications.

Following the formal consultation process, an analysis of the responses received will be undertaken, and the results collated for the Strategic Licensing Committee (SLC) to consider. A revised policy document, with relevant tracked changes, will be made available to the SLC in time to ensure the revised policy is in force by 1 April 2019.

We welcome and encourage all interested parties to provide feedback in relation to the content and format of the whole policy. 

The consultation period commences on Monday 25 June 2018 and closes on Sunday 2 September 2018.

Documents

All comments and representations should be made, and further advice may be sought from, the Licensing Team at:

Email: licensing@shropshire.gov.uk

Telephone: 0345 678 9026

Post: Trading Standards & Licensing Service, Shropshire Council, Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury SY2 6ND

Data protection

Information collected in our surveys will only be used by us (Shropshire Council) to inform the immediate and future provision of our services. The information you provide will be kept confidential in accordance with our Privacy Policy. It will not be shared outside of Shropshire Council. Information collected via our online surveys (hosted on the Surveymonkey website) will be stored on SurveyMonkey’s servers in the United States of America and SurveyMonkey gives an undertaking never to disclose the survey questions or your responses to others without permission.