Licence Review
The Government envisage that the majority of applications for a licence will not be contested by the authorities or by local people. Therefore the majority of licences will be granted without hearings or objections. This is possible because a licence may be reviewed at any time. This may be as a result of a breach of the licence, or because of a complaint by police, environmental health section of the Council in relation to noise, nuisance or health & safety or by a member of the public.If a complaint is received the licensing officer is required to assess the complaint on the grounds set down in the legislation and Guidance, whether it complies with the licensing objectives and whether it is irrelevant, frivolous or vexatious. They are also required to check that it is not substantially the same complaint which was received at a previous time including during the original application or variation.
As with an objection to an application the licensing officer will seek to facilitate to compromise where possible and organise a formal hearing.
The Review follows the same procedures as an application hearing, heard by the Licensing Committee and they have the same options available to them as the application stage; to dismiss the review, to remove the licence or to impose further conditions on the licence.
Any decision made at review can be appealed through the Magistrates Court in the same way as a refused or amended application.