Welcome to the latest newsletter from the Westminster Licensees Association - providing a round up of the latest news, the top issues affecting trade in Westminster and the vital information you need to run your business effectively. The focus of our newsletter this month is licensing reform - Westminster's proposed draft policy, our response and lobbying activity and the next steps for operators.

Licensing Reform - Your Step by Step Guide:

Influencing Policy: You should by now have received a letter from Westminster Council as part of the public consultation on its proposed new licensing policy. The document is lengthy and complex but you can download our readable summary from the website. The policy is extremely restrictive and goes against the letter and the spirit of licensing reform.

The public consultation on the draft statement of licensing policy is important as it is our only statutory opportunity to influence the Council's thinking but, more importantly, to highlight our opposition to their proposals. Even if the Council does not act on our recommendations, registering our concerns will enable us to mount a legal challenge under the new regime should need arise.

Campaigning: With such a lengthy policy, the WLA's response was equally weighty, highlighting concerns about the proposed draft Operating Plan and accompanying extensive checklists, the draft policy on hours, the use of blanket conditions and the special saturation policy. In addition it provided a robust commentary on the draft, highlighting errors of interpretation. You can read an executive summary of the key points we made in our response or download a full copy of the submission from our website.

We have already met the Council to press home our concerns and they have agreed to work with us to revise the operating schedule, enforcement protocol and edit the existing Rules of Management. This is important work as the Rules of Management will be attached as new conditions to all existing PELs when they are converted to premises licences.

Advising Members: we are committed to ensuring that we provide the best possible advice and guidance to members in the run up to the start of the new regime. We will be constantly updating our website, introducing a new licensing reform section where you can access all our briefing papers, policy statements, tips and advice. We are already working on a Frequently Asked Questions Page which will go live in January.

Two issues on which more information has been requested are the application forms and processes and the cost of the new regime. The Government has finally issued draft regulations on these two crucial matters, although the details are unlikely to be confirmed until the end of the year. You can download our two briefing documents on this subject. Click here to access information on the format of plans, the content of operating schedules and other procedural matters and click here for information on fees.

Members' Events: So what will the new policy mean for your business? What are the pitfalls and potential difficulties ahead? How much will it cost and how do you apply? What are the key stages in the transition to the new regime? What are the actions you should be taking now? The WLA's January Members' Event will be devoted to answering these and other questions. It will be held on Wednesday 19th January from 4-6pm and further details will be distributed shortly. It is an event you cannot afford to miss.

Kate Nicholls
23 Beaconsfield Road
London W5 5JE
tel 07958 796 238