Council sets single licence fee date
Mid Devon District Council has set a single date for collecting annual charges for licensed premises.
Licencees will not have to pay annual fees until November 24 - even if they paid earlier last year.
Mid Devon District Council's licensing committee decided this week to collect all future fees on the anniversary of the date when the Licensing Act took effect.
Cllr Dennis Knowles, chairman of the licensing committee, told the Western Morning News: "I am delighted that the licensing committee saw fit to delay collecting all charges until the anniversary of the date they became 'live', which seems to be eminently reasonable and fair to everyone.
"I know this decision will be welcomed by holders of premises' licences and qualifying club certificates."
Council licensing officer Marjory Parish said: "It does not seem fair to penalise those applicants who took our advice to apply early. This is why we have decided to delay collection."
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Your CommentsRobert Feal-Martinez
via email, 09/08/2006Lets hope all councils follow suit. It obviously makes sense to use 24/11. It's a shame the DCMS do not have the sense to annouce this as the on going date. But I guess we know they do not have a practical decision in them.
Richard Paynes via email, 09/08/2006I think that this is a great decision. Here in backward looking Gloucester City I had to renew my licence fee two months ago - the thanks I get for getting my application in early last year!
Sue Fagg via email, 11/08/2006Delighted to tell you that Dover set their single licence fee date as November 24th right back at licence issue. And they have been helpful and pragmatic with us right from the start.
Well done to them!
