Licensing Coordinator's report for 2008/9

Roy Skam

More likely to lose pubs than to gain them

By Roy Skam FBII, NLCA Licensing Coordinator

Thankfully the past year has been relatively quiet on the licensing front. With just one new application and only a few applications for variations this in my view reflects the current financial crisis. In fact, we are more likely to lose public houses than to gain them.

Noise nuisance and vandalism

Noise nuisance and vandalism continue to be a problem unfortunately, as a direct result of the 2003 Licensing Act allowing longer opening hours. We do our best to help residents with particular problems.

Resolve issues amicably

I must stress that it is important to try and keep a dialogue going with your local publican and resolve issues amicably.

Licensing Strategy Group

On your behalf I attend B&H Council's Licensing Strategy Group, which meets three-monthly, and I do my best to make them aware of particular problems in our neighbourhood.

Some thanks

Last year Gabrielle Villermet left the area and I must thank her for all the hard work she has done in the past and especially after the 2003 Act, which gave us a tremendous amount of work. Fortunately, Sandy Crowhurst volunteered to take Gabrielle's place and has already proved her worth. Also I would like to thank Cllr Ian Davey, who is always there to represent residents at licensing hearings.