Licensing Policy

The Licensing Act 2003 requires that Lichfield District Council prepare and publish a statement of its licensing policy every three years. 

The policy details the general principles that the Council, as Licensing Authority, will take into account in order to promote the licensing objectives, when making licensing decisions and will provide clarity for licensing applicants and residents.  When submitting licence applications, applicants will have to consider the policy and show how they will help the Licensing Authority to achieve the Government's four licensing objectives of :

• the prevention of crime and disorder;
• public safety;
• prevention of public nuisance; and the
• protection of children from harm.
  

Prior to determining our current policy which expires on 7th January 2011, it was subject to a consultation process that sought the views of elected members, existing licence holders, persons or bodies representing businesses and residents in the area and other responsible authorities such as Staffordshire Police and the Fire & Rescue Authority.

The consultation process must again take place before the policy can be republished. 

Saturation Policy

As a result of the consultation process undertaken on our initial policy, Staffordshire Police made a formal request to the Licensing Authority for it to consider and declare a 'cumulative impact' area in Bird Street in Lichfield city centre. 

'Cumulative impact' means the potential impact on the promotion of the four licensing objectives of a significant number of licensed premises concentrated in one area.  For example, the potential impact on crime and disorder or public nuisance on a town centre from a large concentration of licensed premises.

Cumulative impact of licensed premises is referred to in more detail in section 6.0 of the current or draft policy.

Staffordshire Police made a further submission in support of extending the area covered by the saturation policy to include Market Street, Lichfield. This was adopted and published as an amendment to the Policy on 24th February 2009 and is now also subject to review.

We want your views

The draft Statement of Licensing Policy was prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Act and, in particular having regard to the Guidance issued by the Secretary of State under Section 182 of the Act.

We will be consulting with those authorities and representative bodies prescribed under Section 5(3) of the Act, as follow

• The Chief Officer of Police for the area.
• The Fire Authority. 
• Persons / bodies representing local holders of premises licences or club premises certificates
• Persons / bodies representing business and residents in the area.
  

A draft policy is now available for comments and the consultation process will end on 30th October 2010.

All responses where a name and address have been provided will be taken into consideration and are likely to be made public.  If you do not wish your identity to be divulged, please make this clear in your response.

If you require any further information please contact Sarah Pearce on 01543 308008.