Item 6 - Extensions to Licensing Hours over the Festive Period 2022
West Dunbartonshire Council · 6 September 2022
Back to Licensing Board — 6 September 2022 and its agenda
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WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE LICENSING BOARD Report by the Clerk to the Licensing Board 6 September 2022 Subject: Extensions to Licensing Hours over the Festive Period 2022 1. Purpose To propose a policy on the granting of Applications for Extended Hours over the 2022/2023 Festive Period in terms of Section 68 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005. 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended:- (a) that the period for granting applications for extended hours in respect of the 2022/2023 Festive Period should be from Friday, 9 December 2022 to Tuesday, 3 January 2023 inclusive; (b) that premises licence holders without significant entertainment (public houses, hotel bars and members’ clubs fall into this category) may apply for 1 hour more than the normal licensed hours during the festive period with the exception of Hogmanay; (c) that premises licence holders without significant entertainment (public houses, hotel bars and members’ clubs) may apply for extended hours to 3 am on Hogmanay on condition that last entry to the premises is 11pm and the event is pre-ticketed; (d) that premises licence holders offering significant entertainment (Nightclubs) may apply until 4 am during the festive period; (e) that authority for the granting of applications for extensions to licensing hours over the Festive Period is delegated to the Clerk to the Licensing Board, if in accordance with the foregoing agreed recommendations and; (f) that should applications for extended hours be submitted which fall out- with the agreed hours, or aforementioned recommendations, within the time period defined at 2.1(a) above, then any such applications may require to be submitted to the Board for consideration, particularly where objections are forthcoming.
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3. Background 3.1 In order to allow licence holders to plan entertainment programmes for the Festive Period as far in advance as possible, the Board normally determines the period during which the policy on the granting of extended hours may be exercised in respect of the forthcoming Festive Period and agrees the additional hours which may be approved. The proposal for this year reflects previous decisions taken by the Board. 4. Main Issues 4.1 Section 68 of The Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, allows the Licensing Board to extend the licensed hours in respect of premises by such period as specified in an application by the holder of a premises licence or such other period as the Board may consider appropriate. 4.2 The Licensing Forum’s views on Festive Extended hours were sought via email and will be updated to the Licensing Board verbally by officers. The Forum has generally been supportive of this format for many years. 4.3 For 2022/2023 it is recommended that the Festive Period should be from Friday, 9 December 2022 to Tuesday, 3 January 2023 inclusive. 5. People Implications All extended hours applications should be processed by staff of the Licensing Team on behalf of the Board without adverse impact on the service provided by the Board or Licensing Team. 6. Financial Implications The report may have a financial benefit to the licensed trade over the Festive Period. 7. Risk Analysis There is no increased risk to the Council associated with the contents of this report. 8. Equalities, Health & Human Rights Impact Assessment (EIA) No EIA was necessary as this is an existing policy with no changes proposed. 9. Consultation The Licensing Forum’s views were sought via email and are to be intimated to the Licensing Board.
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10. Strategic Assessment There are no strategic implications and this report is in line with the Council’s strategic priorities. Peter Hessett Clerk to the Licensing Board West Dunbartonshire Council Person to Contact: Lawrence Knighton, Licensing Standards Officer, West Dunbartonshire Licensing Board, Council Offices, 16 Church Street, Dumbarton, G82 1QL Appendix: None Background Papers: None Wards Affected: All Wards.