SBPA welcomes Executive licensing concessions

June 28, 2007: The Scottish Beer and Pub Association (SBPA) has welcomed concessions made by the Scottish Executive which it asked for in the process of licensing reform in Scotland.

The Scottish Executive has confirmed that it is reducing the proposed distances for neighbour notification notices for new licences during the transition process from an originally proposed radius of 50 metres down to 4 metres.

It has also confirmed that these notices would also not need to be accompanied by a copy of the 15-page application form lodged by licensees.

In addition, it has also made it easier for police forces to differentiate in submitting anti-social behaviour reports to licensing boards in Scotland about offences in the vicinity of licensed premises, meaning that licensed premises will be less likely to have their applications affected by records of offences unrelated to their premises.

SBPA chief executive Patrick Browne said: "These concessions will be welcomed by the licensed trade in Scotland because they mean that there will be fewer notices issued by licensing boards at a much reduced cost, meaning that the fees charged to licensees will be significantly less than would have been the case.

"SBPA argued against the original proposal because we estimated it would have led to some 1.5 million neighbour notification notices being issued, each with a
copy of the 15-page application form, for Scotland's 5,100 pubs alone, never
mind the other 14,000 licensed premises going through transition. The fact
that the new Executive has listened to our representations and responded
positively is very encouraging and hopefully the sign of a new partnership to come on licensing reform between the industry and the new Scottish
government."

"The fact that the process for the police making observations on
antisocial behaviour have also been simplified should also avoid
licensees having negative and inaccurate impressions created about their
premises during the process of trying to get a new licence. This will also
be welcomed by licensees, but will also still allow the police to make
appropriate observations about a licensed premises before it is relicensed."