Representations

The Licensing Act 2003 provides a general presumption of grant of applications, subject to any representations (comments), which may be made to object to or support an application.

Any person is able to make representations in respect of certain types of applications, however, all representations must relate to 1 or more of the statutory licensing objectives and may not be frivolous or vexatious.

Finding out an application has been made

The legislation requires that public notice is given of applications for provisional statements, new, full variation, minor variation or review of licences and club certificates.

The table below sets out how an application has to be publicised and who can make a representation about it. All notices at the premises have to be displayed on pale blue paper, apart from minor variations, which are on white paper.

Information on all applications and licences is available in our licensing public register.

Making a representation

Only representations that relate to at least 1 of the 4 licensing objectives can be considered. Those objectives are:

• prevention of crime and disorder
• public safety
• prevention of public nuisance
• protection of children from harm

Representations must:

• be made in writing
• contain your name and full address
• set out the likely effects that the grant of the application would have on the promotion of at least 1 of the licensing objectives
• must clearly relate to the premises for which application is being made.

For example, representations on the basis of general noise and disturbance, without evidence of a causal link to specific premises, are unlikely to be persuasive.

It will be for the person making the representation to show reasons why the grant of the application is likely to have an effect on them or their business, and show authority to act if they make a representation to an application on behalf of a body representing others, such as a residents' or business association.

The only exception to these general rules will be where the premises are in a specific stress area identified by the Licensing Policy, where the presumption of grant is rebuttable.

How to make a representation

You can make a representation online. You will need to create an account to comment (make a representation) on an application. Search for the application, then select 'comment' 

Make a representation

Alternatively you can make a representation in writing to; Licensing Team, Civic Offices, Union Street, PR7 1AL.

Representations must include your name and full address. We must receive representations no later than the last date specified in the notice of application, as the legislation does not allow consideration of late representations. This date will be 28 days after we received a valid application (10 working days for a minor variation or 7 days for some types of review).

What happens after representations have been made?

Representations that are irrelevant, frivolous or vexatious must be disregarded, so, on receipt, we will check that the representations can be considered. In borderline cases the representations will be placed before the Licensing Sub-Committee, which may choose not to consider them.

If your representation is not accepted as relevant or deemed to be frivolous or vexatious, we will write to let you know. The legislation does not provide any right of appeal against such a decision, other than by way of application for judicial review to the High Court.

Relevant representations

A copy of the representation will be sent to the applicant and, if necessary, arrangements will be made for the our Licensing Act 2003 Sub-Committee to hear the application and the representations made to it. Hearings will take place in public, although the Sub-Committee may, in certain instances, decide that it is in the public interest to hold hearings in private.

The details of all valid representations (including the names and addresses of those making representations) will be included in a report that we will prepare for the hearing. These reports are public documents and we are required by law to publish them. 

All who have made representations will be invited to attend any hearing, as will the applicant. 

Any person or responsible authority may be assisted or represented by any person at the hearing regardless of whether that person is legally qualified.

We will notify everyone of the date and time of the hearing and provide details of the procedure to be followed at the hearing. Only persons that have made a relevant representation, or their representative, can present evidence. Any new evidence should be served on all the parties to the hearing before the hearing date to allow proper consideration.

At the hearing the Sub-Committee will decide whether to grant the application in full or in part, and if granted what conditions should be imposed on the licence. The papers relating to any hearing will be published online. View Licensing Sub-Committee meeting agenda and minutes.

Frivolous or vexatious representations

As a general rule, frivolous representations are likely to lack seriousness. This does not mean that a trivial complaint will always be considered frivolous, but it must relate to one of the licensing objectives and demonstrate evidence of the points made in order to be relevant.

Vexatious representations may, for example, arise because of disputes between rival businesses.

Withdrawing a representation

You can withdraw a representation by giving notice to us no later than 24 hours before the hearing or in person at the hearing.

Can representations be made on every application?

Responsible authorities and other persons may only make representations in respect of applications for the grant, variation (including minor variation), of a premises licence or club premises certificate, the grant of a provisional statement or on an application for review of a licence or certificate. Councillors have no special status over and above any other person in making representations.

This means that representations can be made to an application for a new licence or variation of an existing licence, for example, to stay open later for the sale of alcohol, entertainment or hot food and drinks. 

With the exception of the Police, who can comment on all types of applications and notices, and Environmental Health, who can additionally comment on Temporary Event Notices, no representations can be made in respect of other applications such as transfer, variation of Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) or Temporary Event Notices.

Responsible authorities 

The responsible authorities are:

• Lancashire Constabulary
• Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service
• The Health and Safety Executive (where they have responsibility for health and safety at work enforcement at the premises)
• The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (where the premises comprise a vessel)
• Home Office
• Environmental Health 
• Trading Standards 
• Planning 
• Children's Services
• Public Health

View contact information for relevant responsible authorities.

Representations by petition

Petitions are unlikely to be acceptable unless every page clearly shows the reasons for the petition and each petitioner gives their name, address and signature. In any case, petitions are unlikely to carry as much weight with the Licensing Committee as letters from individuals. Individually produced representations will inevitably carry more weight than "form" letters where an individual's details have been added.

Where representations are made in the form of a petition, the lead organiser must: 

• provide their own contact details 
• state clearly the application that is being opposed to, or supported and the reason for this shown on each page of the petition 
• ensure all names and addresses on the petition are clearly legible and preferably written in black ink 
• show the date the signatures are collected on each page.

We, as the licensing authority, treat a petition as being in support of a representation by the lead petitioner (or person who submits it). We correspond with that person only and will invite that person to the hearing but not all of the signatories on the petition. 

Any representation which includes material in which a third party has copyright must be accompanied by written confirmation from the copyright owner not only that you have permission to use the material but also that we, as licensing authority, can publish it in connection with the application. If you do not provide these confirmations, it is unlikely that such material will be accepted.

The Act also requires that we disregard representations that are considered to be frivolous or vexatious.

Representation at a hearing

Anyone can be represented at a hearing but they will need to specifically authorise someone to act on their behalf. Someone making a representation could ask, for example, a legal representative or friend to act on their behalf. Please note that the representative will act as an advocate for the person who made the representation - they can only present and explain the representation, and will not be able to present their own views on the application or add matters not referred to in the representation.

Is a hearing always required?

No, it is possible for all parties to agree that a hearing is unnecessary in some cases. In such instances, and subject to us also agreeing that a hearing is not required, the matter will be dealt with by the officers or, exceptionally, the Licensing Sub-Committee will decide the application on the basis of a written report only. In the case of an application for a review, a hearing will always be required.

Making a decision

The Licensing Committee is currently made up of elected members of the council and the Licensing Sub-Committee will comprise of any 3 of those members. Although the Sub-Committee does not hear evidence on oath, as in a court, the Sub-Committee is required to determine applications in accordance with the evidence before it at the hearing.

A report and details of all representations (including names and addresses) will be considered. These reports are public documents which we are required to publish.

We will notify everyone of the date and time of the hearing and provide details of the procedure to be followed at the hearing.

At the hearing, the sub-committee may take one or more of the following steps: 

• to take no further action
• to modify the conditions of the licence
• to exclude a licensable activity from the scope of the licence
• to remove the designated premises supervisor
• to suspend the licence for a period not exceeding 3 months 
• to revoke the licence

Appeal a decision

You can appeal direct to the Lancashire Magistrates' Court within 21 days of the decision of the Sub-Committee.

Anyone considering an appeal is strongly advised to take professional legal advice prior to commencing on this potentially costly course of action. 

Problems after a licence is granted

A responsible authority or any other person can seek a review of a licence. The legislation sets out detailed requirements for reviews.

View more information on reviews.