Licensing Act 2003 - Overview
The Licensing Act 2003 changed the way that businesses including pubs, nightclubs, take-aways and restaurants apply for licences to sell alcohol and late night refreshments as well as providing public entertainment facilities. It means that there is now a single system for licensing and Three Rivers District Council is responsible for dealing with licensing functions for the following activities:
- Retail sale and supply of alcohol
- Performance of a play
- Exhibition of a film
- Indoor sporting events
- Boxing or wrestling events
- Performing live music
- Dancing
- Providing facilities for making music or dancing
- Supplying hot food or drink after 11pm until 5am
As part of this change we have put together a Licensing Statement of Policy which was adopted by the Council on 16 November 2004 and has since been updated, and approved by the Council on 4 April 2006. It has subsequently been reviewed again in December 2007. This is used to make decisions on licence and notice applications made under the new Licensing Act 2003. The policy also explains our aims when it comes to licensing and includes preventing crime and disorder, protecting public safety, preventing nuisance and protecting children from harm.
Application forms and guidance notes are now available. Click on the links down the left hand side of the page for forms and guidance relevant to Personal Licences, and Premises Licences and Club Premises Certificates.
If you are a local resident or business and want to make a relevant representation about a particular application (see TRDC Licensing Act 2003 Public Register) then please download or view the "Guide to making effective relevant representations".
For more information, or answers to frequently asked questions, you can visit the website for the Department for Culture, Media & Sport.