Justice Minister visits Licensing Board
Last updated | 21/07/2008
Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill will visit Perth and Kinross Licensing Board today (Monday 21 July) to see the pro-active work being done to ensure that the new alcohol licensing regime runs smoothly.
From 1 February 2008 licensees have been able to start applying for the new premises and personal licences under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005. Each of the area’s 700 licensees will have to apply for a new licence under the change.
This Act represents the first major change in alcohol licensing systems for 30 years, and many alterations have been made to the types of licences that can be applied for.
In an effort to ensure a smooth transition Board staff have been holding one-to-one sessions with licensees to explain the changes and show them how new application forms are filled in - one of the only Boards in Scotland to take this approach.
Several seminars have also been held around Perth and Kinross to explain the new regime to licensees, with more planned.
Mr MacAskill will talk to Board members, staff, solicitors, licensees and police during his visit, to hear about the challenges the change has presented, and how the new regime is settling in.
He will be shown how the licensing process works and will also be given a tour of the Licensing Room at 2 High Street.
Licensing Board Convener, Councillor Bob Band, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Minister to Perth and Kinross so we can show him the work we are doing under the new Act.
“We have been extremely pro-active in making sure that licensees understand the new legislation and how it affects them. So far our approach has been a great success and has proved very popular with local licensees.
“Licensees have until next year to get their applications processed, so our hard work will continue.”
Mr MacAskill said: “We are now well into the transition period for the new Licensing Act, where every licensee had to move from the old system to the new. I know that Perth and Kinross Licensing Board have taken a practical, common sense approach to helping licensees through the process. That’s why I was keen to take this opportunity to visit and to find out more about how they have found the process so far.
“I’d also like to thank the staff of the Board for the great work they’ve been doing to help make sure the transition goes as effectively as possible. One of the advantages of the Act is that the whole ethos of it is to allow local Boards to do what’s right for their own area, and it’s great to see Boards taking advantage of this.”
