Help is at hand

With two weeks to go before the August 6 deadline for converting existing licences, James Wilmore finds out how the BII is helping licensees prepare.

For many licensees the new Licensing Act has been a nightmare. You only have to look at the number of comments posted on this site to see how many have been left baffled and infuriated by the changes.

Plenty of licensees have complained that the forms are too complicated and instead of reducing red tape, as the Act was meant to, it has merely increased it.

Now we have a last-minute mad rush, with licensees desperate for advice on how to fill in their forms and avoid them being rejected. Of course, if their applications are not processed before August 6 they risk losing their grandfather rights.

For members of the BII, help has been at hand in the form of a free legal hotline staffed by solicitors Poppleston Allen.

It's proving extremely successful, with members flooding it with their licensing queries.

Unsurprisingly, the vast majority of calls are currently about applications, according to Suzanne Brookes, marketing manager at Poppleston Allen.

"Many callers have asked if their application for a new personal licence can be made during the transitional period, or whether they have to wait until the Second Appointed Day," she says. "The answer is yes, an application can be made during the transitional period.

"Other common calls include what address should go on the personal licence application, their home address or premises address (it should be your home address), and what to include on operating plans.

"Other queries vary considerably. One example would be a caller, whose upstairs is licensed but downstairs isn't, wanting to know whether he could sell alcohol upstairs for consumption downstairs." (Unfortunately, there is no set answer - it depends on the individual circumstances.)

Big benefits​

Many BII members have benefited from these services, which has helped them wade through a sea of uncertainty.

John McNamara, chief executive of the BII, explains: "We were determined from the outset to make sure our members have access to decent advice. People should have the right to this kind of advice when they want it."

BII members have also been offered a personal assistance service via Poppleston Allen, although its huge popularity has meant it is unable to take on any new clients.

John predicts that only 45 per cent of licensees will have their applications in by the August 6 deadline.

"It's a real challenge," he says. "The more we can encourage people to apply the better as local authorities are going to be up to their eyeballs in applications."

The BII's own call centre is often the first port of call for licensees with queries - if callers are members they are then redirected to Poppleston Allen. Initially the centre's team of two were dealing mainly with questions from doorstaff about Security Industry Authority (SIA) licences.

"Until a few months ago they were the main thrust of queries," says Denise Thomson, the BII's head of quality systems. "But since then the balance has really shifted and around 90 per cent of our calls have been licensing related."

Now things have reached boiling point. "We are getting around 70 calls a day from people in a state of high anxiety. After all, in many cases it's people's livelihoods we are talking about," she adds.

In the BII's call centre itself the team prides itself on the reassurance it is able to offer licensees. "There are still a lot of complaints about the over-bureaucracy and we try the best we can to set licensees' minds at rest," says Mairi Connell, who works in the call centre.

"We have been gearing up for some time for the final push from licensees. We have been very proactive and we try to predict the problems we are going to be faced with."

So in the final lead-up to the August 6 deadline members of the BII at least should be in safe hands. As for other licensees, it will just be a case of relying on their local authority to make sure the application is processed in time. Fingers crossed for the final countdown.

• For further information on the BII's services call 01276 684449 or visit www.bii.org

Premises plans​

One of the most common questions from licensees contacting the BII is what they should include on plans. This is what they say:

• The extent of the boundary of the building, if relevant, and any external and internal walls of the building and, if different, the perimeter of the premises
• The location of points of access to and exit from the premises
• If different from above, the location of escape routes from the premises
• In a case where the premises is used for more than one existing licensable activity, the area within the premises used for each activity
• Fixed structures (including furniture) or similar objects temporarily in a fixed location (but not
  furniture) which may impact on the ability of individuals on the premises to use exits or escape routes without impediment
• In a case where the premises includes a stage or raised area, the location and height of each stage or area relative to the floor
• The location of any steps, stairs, elevators or lifts
• In a case where the premises includes any room or rooms containing public conveniences, the location of the room or rooms
• The location and type of any fire safety and any other safety equipment
• The location of a kitchen, if any, on the premises.