Consultation outcome

Fees under the Licensing Act 2003

From:: Home Office
Published: 13 February 2014
Last updated: 26 February 2015 — See all updates

Download the full outcome

The government’s response to the consultation on locally-set fees

PDF, 139 KB, 8 pages

Detail of outcome

The government’s response to the consultation on locally-set fees under the Licensing Act 2003.

Feedback received

Summary and factual report on the consultation responses

PDF, 207 KB, 24 pages

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Detail of feedback received

Response to the consultation on locally-set fees under the Licensing Act 2003. Summary and factual report on the consultation responses.

Original consultation

Consultation description

The Licensing Act 2003 (the 2003 Act) regulates the sale of alcohol, the provision of late night refreshment and regulated entertainment in England and Wales, and is primarily administered by local authorities, acting in their capacity as licensing authorities. Licensing fees are intended to recover the costs that licensing authorities incur in carrying out these licensing functions. Licensing fees are payable to licensing authorities by holders of licences and certificates, and those making applications or issuing notices. This can include, for example, pubs, shops, restaurants and private members’ clubs (such as working men’s clubs).

Current fee levels were set in 2005 and apply nationally. They have not been adjusted since (other than for the introduction of new fees for new processes). The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 amended the 2003 Act to introduce a power for the Home Secretary to prescribe in regulations that in future fee levels should be set by individual licensing authorities to enable them to recover their licensing costs.

The consultation seeks views on important aspects of the regulations that will govern locally-set fees. These include:

whether and under what circumstances licensing authorities should be able to charge different amounts to different types of premises
the maximum amount that can be charged
the mechanisms that will provide reassurance to fee-payers that fees are being set transparently, at cost, and efficiency encouraged

It also asks whether there should be a single national payment date for annual fees. (Annual fees are currently payable on the anniversary of the date the licence was granted).

An impact assessment accompanies the consultation document, which estimates the change in fee payments that will result from fees being set locally. This includes an estimate of the costs for licensing authorities of the duty to set fees.

Alongside the consultation, we are conducting a survey of licensing authority costs. This seeks licensing authority estimates of their costs in performing each of their licensing function under the 2003 Act. Completed surveys or queries should be sent to: alcoholstrategy@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

How to respond

Please send us your comments by using our online form.

Alternatively, you can email your response to: alcoholstrategy@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Or write to:

Alcohol team
Drugs and Alcohol Unit
Home Office
4th Floor Fry Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF