Commenting on licence applications

'Interested parties' and 'responsible authorities' can comment on an application.

Interested parties

Interested parties are any of the following:

• a person living in the vicinity of the premises
• a body representing persons who live in that vicinity
• a person involved in a business in the vicinity of the premises
• a body representing persons involved in these businesses.

Responsible authorities

Responsible authorities mean any of the following:

• Warwickshire Police 
• Warwickshire Fire and Rescue service
• Rugby Borough Council's health and safety service
• Rugby Borough Council's planning service
• Rugby Borough Council's environmental health service
• Warwickshire County Council's child protection service
• Trading Standards
• The Home Office
• Where relevant, the Environment Agency, Canal and River Trust or the Secretary of State

Any comments must be relevant to the licensing objectives for us to take them into account.

The licensing objectives

• Prevention of crime and disorder
• Public safety
• Prevention of public nuisance
• Protection of children from harm

Relevant comments

For a representation to be relevant it must:

• relate to the effect of the grant of the licence on the promotion of the licensing objectives
• be made by an interested party or responsible authority
• not have been withdrawn
• not be 'frivolous or vexatious' or, in the case of a review, 'repetitious' if made by an interested party
• if it concerns the premises supervisor be made by a chief officer of police and include a statement explaining the reasons for the objection.
  

If we consider that any comments we have received are relevant we must normally hold a hearing to consider them. We may:

• decide to grant or vary the licence in the same terms as it was applied for
• decide that it is necessary to refuse to issue or vary the licence
• decide to grant or vary the licence, but to modify the conditions
• exclude from the scope of the licence a licensable activity.

If no relevant representations are made the licence or variation must be granted. We may still impose conditions.

If you want to complain about a premises that is already licensed, you should contact the premises in the first instance. If your complaint is not resolved then you should contact the police if your complaint relates to antisocial behaviour or criminal activity, the fire service if it relates to fire safety, or to the council if it is about another problem.