by Ewan Turney
Local authorities throughout England and Wales are pleading with licensees to submit their licence applications. They have also warned that hosts can expect less help as the deadline approaches.
The crucial 6 August deadline is now just six weeks away with the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) estimating that only around 10% of premises applications have been submitted.
It is believed that half of the 28,000 that were submitted were returned due to errors.
If licensees miss the 6 August deadline they will lose their grandfather rights and be forced to apply for new licences.
Local Government Association licensing spokeswoman Trish O'Flynn said the overall picture was 'very worrying. 'Local authorities are busting a gut to get people to apply but there is only so much they can do, she said. 'The low level of applications is so unexpected.
She said that councils were equally concerned about the knock-on effect on the tourism industry if pubs were forced to shut after November. 'We are seeking talks with the DCMS over what to do after 24 November if premises miss out. If pubs trade without a valid licence they could be prosecuted and that could go against them in applying for a new licence.
The country's largest licensing authority, Westminster, has received 433 applications from a required 3,600 just 12%. Of that, 103 have been returned due to errors. It claims that if the current rate were to continue, it would take seven years to complete the process. The council held a seminar on Monday for solicitors in a bid to gather useful advice to disseminate to licensees on form filling.
'Time is running out for licensees to get their applications in and we want to ensure that those we receive are valid, said Councillor Audrey Lewis.
Oxford City Council licensing spokesman Paul Kirkley warned that if the council became swamped with applications it would have to 'start being less helpful. It may have to invoke rules set out in the guidance that all applications for conversions would automatically be granted after two months and all variations rejected, he said.
O'Flynn added: 'Authorities will offer what help they can but it will be less personal. If there are any licensees still unaware of the situation, they need to get their applications in as soon as possible.