28 August 2008


Varying your certificate

During the transition period, any variations to existing certificates, to take effect during transition, must still be applied for through the Licensing Justices. Variations to apply following the end of the transition period will need to be made to the Council.

An application to vary a certificate must be made to the Licensing Authority

The following documents must be enclosed:

You must also advertise the application and, on the same day you give the application to the Licensing Authority, provide each responsible authority with a copy of the application and accompanying documents.

Decision making
We are required to make our decisions regarding the granting of licences utilising our policy and having regard to four licensing objectives.

The certificate requested will be granted (possibly subject to certain mandatory conditions regarding matters such as the sale of alcohol, door supervisors or exhibition of films etc. or conditions consistent with the operating schedule unless representations have been made by a responsible authority or other 'interested parties'.

An 'interested party' includes:

  • Any person living in the vicinity of the premises and/or any body representing such persons
  • Any person involved in a business in the vicinity and/or a body representing such persons

note: this does not include either a local MP or the local authority

Representations can be made with regard to the likely effect of the grant of the licence on the promotion of the licensing objectives and / or with regard to the identity of the premises supervisor. However, representations (other than those from the responsible authorities) will not be considered relevant where the licensing authority considers them to be frivolous or vexatious.

The Council's licensing committee will consider these representations with regard to the licensing objectives and may, on this basis, either decide to

  • Grant the Certificate, subject to any appropriate conditions
  • Grant the Certificate but exclude one or more of the licensable activities
  • Reject the application.

Timing
Neither the 'club premises certificate' nor any variation to existing certificate terms will come into effect until the second appointed day (November 2005) at the end of the 'transition' period. Thus, during the transition period, existing certificates will continue to be enforceable.

Application
If you wish to apply for a licence you can either: