Premises Licences

What is a premises licence?
A Premises Licence will be granted either for a fixed term (e.g. for a one off event with an anticipated attendance of over 500) or indefinitely (e.g. for pubs, clubs, off licences, etc.)

When applying for a Premises Licence, applicants will have to submit:

A plan of their premises
An Operating Schedule (a brief description of how the premises will be operated safely and in line with the four Licensing Objectives)
The fee
If the application involves the supply of alcohol, a form of consent from the Designated Premises Supervisor.

The Licensing Authority will have to automatically grant licences where there are no objections (relevant representations). It may also impose conditions that promote the Licensing Objectives, for example in the case of a night club it may require door supervisors to promote the Crime and Disorder and Public Nuisance Objective.

If relevant representations are made about granting or changing a licence the Council's Licensing & Safety Committee (made up of 12 Councillors) will have to examine the application and hold a hearing consisting of a panel of 3 Members. This may not be necessary if the application is discussed around the table and all parties, including the objector, agree any necessary changes to the Operation Schedule and are happy for the application to proceed.

Designated Premises Supervisors

Any premises where alcohol is supplied under a premises licence must have a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS). They will be named in the operating schedule for any premises with a premises licence. The DPS will not necessarily be the premises licence holder, although this may sometimes be the case. It is expected that they will be the point of contact for the premises at all times for licensing authorities, or the police or fire services if problems occur at the premises.

Any application for a premises licence must also include a form of consent given by the individual whom the applicant wishes to have specified in the premises licence as the DPS.

Exemptions

There are a number of exemptions from the requirement to have a Premises Licence. These include:

Trains and air planes on a journey
Films in Museums
Religious Services and places of worship
Garden Fetes
Film exhibitions for the purpose of advertising or education
Crown premises occupied by armed forces
Music incidental to other activities
Live TV and radio broadcasts

Making an Application
Consultation with all responsible authorities should be encouraged prior to the submission of the application. Applications for new licences or for variation of licences must be submitted to the Licensing Authority and copied to each of the Responsible Authorities. In total 8 copies of the application will be needed :

Applications should be sent to:

Bracknell Forest Borough Council Licensing Team
1st Floor / Time Square
Market Street
Bracknell RG12 1JD
Telephone : 01344 352000
e-mail : licence.all@bracknell-forest.gov.uk
The Chief Officer of Police
Bracknell Police Station
Broadway
Bracknell RG12 1AD
Telephone 01344 823460
The Local Fire Authority
Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service
The Fire Safety Office
Bridge Road
Maidenhead SL6 8PG
The Local Authority with responsibility for Environmental Health
Bracknell Forest Borough Council Environmental Health Team
1st Floor / Time Square
Market Street
Bracknell RG12 1JD
The Local Planning Authority
Bracknell Forest Borough Council Planning Team
Ground Floor / Time Square
Market Street
Bracknell RG12 1JD
The Local Weights and Measures Authority
Bracknell Forest Borough Council Trading Standards Team
First Floor / Time Square
Market Street
Bracknell RG12 1JD
A body that represents those who are responsible for, or interested in, matters relating to the protection of children from harm
Bracknell Area Child Protection Committee
C/O Bracknell Police Station
Broadway
Bracknell RG12 1AD
Either :

(a) The Local Enforcement Agency for the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, for non-Council operated premises

Bracknell Forest Borough Council Environmental Health Team
1st Floor / Time Square
Market Street
Bracknell RG12 1JD

or

(b) The Local Enforcement Agency for the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, for Council operated premises

The Health and Safety Executive
Priestley House
Priestley Road
Basingstoke RG24 7NW