Online licensing system flawed
The online licensing application system promised by Government to reduce red tape for licensees has not materialised.
According to the legal journal Licensing Review, after researching more than 30 local authorities, only Croydon came up with a workable system.
"The majority had no electronic application system and could not accept fee payments online," said Peter Coulson, Morning Advertiser's legal editor, who also edits the journal.
He said: "The Government's Businesslink website just does not do what the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) claims.
"It is not possible to fill in a form online on the site or from the site. It merely links to the website of the relevant authority if you fill in your postcode."
In December, DCMS issued fresh guidance on how electronic applications should be dealt with, showing the businesslink website acting as a central portal for all applications.
However Coulson said he had spoken to a number of leading licensing lawyers and found that no one has used the system.
Of those tested, Coulson said Croydon's was the only one that "provided anything approaching a complete interactive system, which was easy to understand and use".
He said that Watford's site also had wrong links — clicking on "premises licence" takes the user to a descriptive site, but no application form is provided. Liverpool's online system only accepts payments online for variations or renewals, rather than for new applications.
A Businesslink spokesman said the site was "working properly", despite making no mention of alcohol and entertainment licensing in its "Do it online" section.
Have you tried the online application system? Contact trzzn.zpxraan@jvyyvnz-errq.pb.hx
