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Reviewing a Premises Licence

People who live or work in the vicinity of a premises licensed to sell alcohol, provide entertainment, or sell hot food or hot drink between 11pm and 5am, are able to ask the Council to review the licence if they are being adversely affected by the operation of the licence.

 

A review must be based on a matter arising at or in the vicinity of the licensed premises and be connected to one or more of the licensing objectives:

  • Prevention of crime and disorder.


  • Public safety.


  • Prevention of public nuisance.


  • Protection of children from harm.

 

Eligibility Criteria

Any of the following may apply for a review:

 

  • Any individual body or business which is not a Responsible Authority

 

  • A Responsible Authority 


Applicants must not be under 18 years of age.


 

Regulation Summary

A summary of the regulations relating to this licence are available here.


 

Application Evaluation Process 

Applications can be made in writing or via our online application system and must be sent to the licensing authority for the area where the premises are located.

 

The Licensing Authority cannot initiate its own review, but ‘responsible authorities’ such as the Council’s Environmental Protection Team may do so - for example, if Environmental Protection officers have received substantiated complaints of noise.  Similarly, ‘interested parties’ (people who live or work in the vicinity of a licensed premises, or a body representing such persons) may initiate a review.

 

Anyone who believes that a review of a licensed premises may be necessary in order to promote the licensing objectives should begin by keeping a note of their reasons for concern. Such a note may be useful in any subsequent hearing should that be necessary.  Please note that the Licensing Authority cannot accept an application for review if the comments or objections (otherwise known as ‘representations’) in support of the application are frivolous, vexatious or repetitious.

 

Frivolous or vexatious will bear their ordinary meaning. Frivolous means silly or trivial; vexatious means done to cause annoyance or distress. The Licensing Authority must form a view as to whether a reasonable person would consider the representations to be frivolous or vexatious. A representation is considered repetitious if it is identical or substantially similar to one already considered by the licensing authority when the premises licence was first granted, or it is identical or substantially similar to a ground for review in an earlier application which has already been determined.

 

When applying for a review it is important to remember that a copy of your application will be made available to the public, and you should be willing to present your views to the Council’s Licensing Sub Committee. You cannot apply for a review anonymously.  You must also send a copy to all Responsible Authorities, to view the list click here

 

When the Council receives an application to review a premises licence, it has to advertise the application on or near the premises concerned and at the Council offices. The advertising has to take place for 28 days and will contain details of the grounds for review.

 

The Council has one month, following the end of the advertising period, to hold a hearing to consider the review application. Everyone who has made representations, as well as the licence holder, will be invited to attend the hearing which will be open to the public. All papers relevant to the hearing will also be publicly available. This will include details of who applied for the review.The licence holder will be able to respond to the request for the review and can be legally represented at the hearing. Both parties can call witnesses.

 

The review panel will want to find out all the facts about the problem that has happened as a result of the operation of the premises, and will ask questions of the applicant, his or her witnesses and of the licence holder and their witnesses.

 

At the hearing, the review panel’s powers are far reaching and they may:

  • Decide to take no further action if members find that the review does not require any steps to promote one or more of the licensing objectives.


  • Issue an informal warning and/or recommend improvement by a particular deadline.


  • Add new conditions to the licence, e.g. reduce hours of trading or require door supervisors at particular times.


  • Exclude a licensable activity, e.g. exclude the performance of live music.


  • Remove the designated premises supervisor.


  • Suspend the licence for a period not exceeding three months.


  • Revoke the licence altogether.

 

The applicant for the review, the premises licence holder and any person who submitted a representation all have a right of appeal against the panel’s decision.

 

The Secretary of State has produced Guidance under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003. To view this guidance click here.  The Licensing Authority when considering any application has regard to this guidance.

As a requirement of the Act the Licensing Authority has also produced a Licensing Policy that is used by the authority when determining applications. To view the Council's Licensing Policy click here.

 

 

The following premises are currently under review:

 

0


 

Will Tacit Consent apply?

No. 
 


 

Apply online (available soon)


Apply via post

If you wish to apply for a review please download the relevant form below and complete in full.

 

 

 

If you require any assistance completing your application please the Council's Crime Reduction officer on 01723 232323 or email: safer.communities@scarborough.gov.uk



Once completed, applications should be sent to the Licensing Authority, accompanied by any required documentation at the following address:

 

The Licensing Authority, Scarborough Borough Council, Town Hall, St Nicholas Street, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO11 2HG.

 

Please note that unlike online applications the applicant is required to send copies of their applications to the relevant responsible authorities.  The table below details which responsible authorities must receive copies of the application form.

 

 

Application

 

Responsible Authority to be

Consulted

New Premises Licence All
New Provisional Statement All
Variation of premises licence (full) All
Review of premises licence All
Variation of premises licence (minor) None*
Transfer of premises licence Police only

Vary the licence to specify an individual as the designated

premises supervisor (DPS)

Police only
Interim Authority Notice Police only
Notification of interest in a premises None

*The Licensing Authority will consult those responsible authorities

it considers necessary

 

The addresses for all of the responsible authorities are available here

 

If you have any questions relating to the application process or how to complete the forms please contact the Licensing Service on 01723 232323 or email licensing.services@scarborough.gov.uk.

 

Register

A public register is available online.  If you wish to view the Council's online register please click here.  You can also view a copy of the register at the Council's Offices during normal office hours.  To make an appointment to view the registers please contact the Licensing Service on 01723 232323 or alternatively email licensing.services@scarborough.gov.uk.


Failed Application redress

Please contact the Local Authority in the first instance.

 

An appeal against a decision may be made by the applicant within 21 days from the date of receipt of the notification of the decision to:

 

Scarborough Magistrates’ Court, The Law Courts, Northway, Scarborough, YO12 7AE

 

Licence Holder redress

Please contact the Local Authority in the first instance.

 

If an application is made by the chief police officer, as detailed below, and interim steps are taken by the licensing authority you may make representations. A hearing must be held within 48 hours of your representations.

 

A licence holder may appeal against any conditions attached to a licence, a decision to reject a variation application, a decision to reject a transfer application or a decision to exclude an activity or person as premises supervisor. An appeal must be made within 21 days from the date of receipt of the notification of the decision to:

 

Scarborough Magistrates’ Court, The Law Courts, Northway, Scarborough, YO12 7AE


 

Consumer Complaint

An interested party or responsible authority may apply to the licensing authority to review a premises licence which will  necessitate a hearing being held by the Licensing Authority.

 

An appeal against a decision may be made by the applicant, licence holder or a party who has made relevant representations within 21 days from the date of receipt of the notification of the decision to:

 

Scarborough Magistrates’ Court, The Law Courts, Northway, Scarborough, YO12 7AE

 

A review application pack is available here.

 

Other redress

The chief police officer for the police area where the premises are located can apply to the Licensing Authority for a review of the licence if the premises are licensed to sell alcohol by retail and a senior officer has given a certificate that they are of the opinion that the premises are associated with either serious crime or disorder or both. A hearing will be held and the licence holder and other interested parties may make representations.

 

A chief police officer can give a notice to the Licensing Authority if they believe that the transfer of a licence to another, or change in Designated Premises supervisor under a variation application could undermine crime prevention objectives. Such a notice must be given within 14 days of receiving notification of the application.

 


 

Trade Associations

 

Scarborough Borough Council,Town Hall, St Nicholas Street, Scarborough, North Yorkshire. YO11 2HG
Customer First Contact Centre