Can Camden Council's licensing function cope?

3.51.05pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 9th Aug 2005

The news that nearly a quarter of all licensed premises in Camden have failed to meet the submission deadline of 6th August is bad news for Camden Council, but potentially good news for residents.

Camden Council Licensing Department now finds itself struggling under a mountain of late applications and is now engaged on a roller coaster process of processing hundreds of applications in a very short period of time, consulting over the august holidays and reliant on the good will of a few councillors who have to hear the applications.

Ed Fordham, parliamentary spokesman for Hampstead and Highgate Liberal Democrats says "I am particularly concerned that the Executive Member responsible, Cllr John Thane, has failed to proffer any meaningful comment of support to this service. the pressures being put on his staff by his own Government are near intolerable and is leading to mistakes. I am calling on him to intervene and act and to work with the Council leader and Council Chief executive to give this service the resources it actually needs."

Recent errors include:

• Misinforming applicants about the time of hearings

• Misinforming residents about the date for representations

• Listing local councillors as licensees on the website

"However, there is some good news, the 25% or so of licensed premises that now have to apply by the end of September are some of the most controversial premises and they have to apply afresh as though it is a new application. This means that residents who wish to can actually object and campaign for reductions and enhanced conditions. These applicants will

not be protected by the new licensing act - they can undergo full and thorough scrutiny.

"I am calling on Camden Council as soon as possible to release a full list of all those premises that have not met the first deadline of 6th August so as to give residents the optimum time for real consultation."