Alcohol and entertainment licensing

Licensing Act 2003

A new licensing regime came into effect in November 2005, the overall aim of which was to modernise the legislation governing the sale or supply of alcohol and public entertainment licensing.  In brief it brings the control of the sale of alcohol, the provision of regulated entertainment and the provision of late night refreshment between the hours of 11.00pm and 5.00am under the control of local authorities.

 

What are the aims of the new licensing regime?

The Licensing Act 2003 and the Licensing Policy document together aim to promote four key objectives which must be addressed when any licensing functions are undertaken.  These are:-

 

- The prevention of crime and disorder

- Public safety

- The prevention of public nuisance

- The protection of children from harm

 

What types of licence are there?

Personal licence

This is a portable licence granted to an individual enabling him/her to sell alcohol at a premises licensed for the sale of alcohol.

 

New applicants for a personal licence must be aged 18 or over and will need to hold an accredited licensing qualification.  They must also provide a criminal conviction certificate or a criminal record certificate issued no more than one month previous to the application date.

 

Premises licence

This will be required by anyone wanting to allow certain licensable activities to take place at their premises.  The licence will specify the nature of the licensable activities and detail any conditions that apply.

 

Any premises licence that includes the sale of alcohol will require a ‘Designated Premises Supervisor’ to be specified as the person responsible for authorising the sale of alcohol.  This person must hold a personal licence and will normally be whoever takes day to day responsibility for running the premises.

 

Club Premises Certificate

This licence grants ‘qualifying club’ status to specific premises, in accordance to a number of qualifying conditions as detailed in Part 4, Sections 62 and 64 of the Act.

 

Temporary Event Notice (TEN)

This makes provision to hold a temporary or occasional event without the need of a licence and requires the organiser to notify the police and local authority by issuing a Temporary Event Notice.  This arrangement will cover small scale events that last less than four days and which will attract less than 499 people.  Other further limitations with regard to such ‘notices’ are detailed in Part 5, Section 107 of the Act.

 

Responsible Authorities

The application process for Premises or Club Premises requires you to forward a copy of your application and other documents to various agencies named as ‘Responsible Authorities’.  The addresses relevant to this authority are as listed below:-

 

List of Responsible Authorities

The Licensing Officer        

Support Services

Borough Offices

Bishops College

Churchgate

Cheshunt

Herts  EN8 9XQ

Environmental Health Section

Borough of Broxbourne

Borough Offices

Bishops College

Churchgate

Cheshunt

Herts  EN8 9XQ

District Manager

Fire Safety Department

Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Services

121 Mutton Lane

Potters Bar

Herts  EN6 2HF

The Licensing Officer

Hertfordshire Constabulary

Hitchin Police Station

College Road

Hitchin

Herts  SG5 1JX

Planning Section

Borough of Broxbourne

Borough Offices

Bishops’ College

Churchgate

Cheshunt

Herts  EN8 9XQ

Responsible Authority- Licensing Act

Hertfordshire County Council

Children, Schools and Families

Room 17

County Hall

Hertford

Herts  SG13 8DF

Trading Standards

45 Grosvenor Road

St Albans

Herts

AL1 3AW

 

 

Reviews of Premises Licences

Interested parties living or working in the vicinity of licensed premises, or a responsible authority, may apply to the relevant licensing authority for a review of that premises licence by the Licensing Sub-Committee.

 

The application for a review must be based on real evidence (from witnesses or documents) that the premises fails to meet one or more of the licensing objectives and must relate to a matter under the control of the premises that could be solved or improved by changing the way the premises operates.

 

Outcome of the application to review the premises licence for Tesco Stores Ltd., Hammond Street Road, Cheshunt.

 

Where can I find further information about the Act?

Department of culture, media and sport website.

 

How are applications made?

New applications

Following the end of transition on 24 November 2005, all licence applications will be 'new applications' and any subsequent applications 'variations'.

Applications received to vary premises licence

Click on the link below for details of the premises which have applied to vary the existing licence(s) held together with a summary of the extended consent(s) sought. 

 

Applications received