The Chair welcomed Akhtar, a former Deane-cum-Heaton local election candidate, now Councillor for Halliwell and Labour’s Spokesperson on Licensing.

He said that it was a pleasure for him to visit the ward of which he had very fond memories and was glad to see it still very active.  He has been a Councillor since 2002 and has learned a great deal over the last four years.

The Licensing Act 2003 came into force in November last year amidst claims that there would be huge problems of drunkenness, violence, social misbehaviour and increased crime.  This hasn’t happened.

The objectives of the act had been to:

• Reduce crime and disorder.  The Daily Mail had waged a huge campaign saying that the increased opening hours would do the opposite – it hasn’t.
• Increase and encourage tourism, bringing more people into our towns and cities.  There isn’t much evidence of this happening yet but the act only came into force in November and we will have to see what happens during the summer.
• Reduce alcoholism and substance abuse
• Encourage self-sufficiency in rural communities.
• Modernise the archaic drinking laws designed to prevent drunkenness amongst munitions workers in the First World War

Involve local communities in regulating drinking establishments by putting the responsibility for approving licenses into the hands of local elected Councillors.

The act had been part of the Government’s anti-regulation agenda.  Each premises now has one license covering drinking, food, music/entertainment, etc., not several as before.  The process is also much simpler.  The potential licensee makes an application and the application is notified through the local press.  If there are no objections the license is granted automatically.

There were several misconceptions before the act was implemented.  One was that the Government wanted to promote 24 hour drinking.  Nothing was further from the truth.  In fact, only 0.5% of premises have been granted 24 hour licenses and those that do have them only open round the clock on special occasions.  It was said that longer drinking would lead to more problems but this hasn’t happened.  In fact, the law seems to be working pretty well so far.

Akhtar’s introduction was followed by questions:

Ian:	What systems are in place to monitor the impact of the new regulations?
Akhtar:	No special monitoring by the local authority other than to investigate any complaints received.  The police are monitoring in several categories.
Alan:	A couple of months ago the Government said that there had been an 11% reduction in violent crime since the law was enacted.
Anne:	How can you find out which licensed premises have extended opening hours?
Akhtar:	That can be done through the Licensing Department of the Council.
George:	Is there any measure of how many fine buildings have fallen into the hands of brewers to be demolished or ruined?
John M:	Are as many licensed premises offering entertainment as before the new law was enacted?
Akhtar:	Overall there doesn’t seem to have been much change.
Graham:	There was huge concern that the new law would be the death of live music but it doesn’t seem to have happened.  Is this being monitored?
Akhtar:	The Licensing Department is only responding to complaints received from the public.
John G:	There doesn’t seem to have been much change, in fact.
Joyce:	How often does the Licensing Committee meet?
Akhtar:	Every month, but it’s not the Committee that approves the licences but a panel from the Committee acting with delegated powers.  Only problems or complaints go before the full Committee.  The new system is good in that the public can, via their Councillors, have a say in the licensing process.
Diane:	Are there campaigns to persuade people to drink more sensibly?
Akhtar:	There are but this doesn’t come within the remit of the Licensing Committee.

Graham thanked Akhtar for his contribution to the meeting and Anne for hosting it and for her hospitality.  He declared the meeting closed at 9:20 pm.