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Dept for Culture Media and Sport

Answer

Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what guidance she has issued concerning the status of (a) parish and (b) town councils in relation to consultation under sections 13 and 69 of the Licensing Act 2003. [216477] Mr. Caborn: No special guidance has been issued concerning the status of parish and town councils in relation to consultations under the Licensing Act 2003. Members of parish and town councils have the same rights as any other citizen. The Licensing Act 2003 provides that interested parties, including persons living or involved in a business in the vicinity of a premises or bodies representing them, may make representations about applications for provisional statements and about the grant or variation of premises licences or club premises certificates, except where a simple conversion of an existing licence or certificate is made under the grandfather rights provisions in Schedule 8 of the Act. Interested parties may also apply for a review of a licence or certificate at any time as well as make representations about a review once it has been applied for. Representations must be about the effects of the application on the promotion of the licensing objectives. Members of parish and town councils will be able to make representations if they are interested parties under the terms of the Act. They are not free to make representations in their own right unless they live in the vicinity of the premises concerned. However, there is nothing to prevent a council member acting on behalf of any resident living in the vicinity of the premises and making the representations that the resident would like to have made.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

216477; 431 c517-8W;431 c513-4W

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Applications Licensed premises

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk