Licensing Act 2003 - Making Representations

Advice on how to make representations about premises licences for alcohol and entertainment in Eastbourne under the Licensing Act 2003, using the online forms in this section.

Information for Interested Parties

The Licensing Act 2003 enables thorough scrutiny of licence applications both by responsible authority consultees and by local residents and businesses.

Responsible authorities, including the police, fire authority, trading standards, health and safety and environmental health are notified of every application for a new premises licence, or variation of existing licences, and have  the opportunity to make representations to the Council about the effect of the application on the promotion of the four licensing objectives.

The Act also enables residents and businesses in the vicinity of the premises (interested parties) to make relevant representations about any application for a new licence or variations to a licence.

This includes the right to raise objections and gives the local community a greater say than ever before in licensing decisions.

Who Can Make a Representation?

You can make a representation if you are a responsible authority or if you are:

• 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

Please be advised that any representation, along with your details will normally be released to the applicant and/or their agents as part of the process, unless you indicate that there are exceptional circumstances where you believe that your details should not be released. Please contact the Licensing Team directly where you believe this to be the case.

How Do You Know When a Licence Application is Made?

You can view an online register of applications received on this website.

Applicants are obliged to advertise licence applications by:

• displaying a site notice outside the premises for 28 days from the day after the application is given to the Council

• placing a public notice once in a local newspaper during 10 days from the day after the application is given to the Council

You can also view newspaper notices from the Eastbourne Gazette and Herald online - see our Public Notices page for details.

You can also view copies of application forms at our offices. Please telephone 01323 415936 in advance to make an appointment.

Reviews of Premises Already Holding a Licence

Interested parties and responsible authorities can also apply in writing for a formal review of an existing licence at any time, where a premises is causing problems to the neighbourhood. There is a review application form available to download - see Apply for a Review of a Premises Licence.

The council will advertise the review application for 28 days by displaying an pale blue, A4 notice at, on or near the site of the licensed premises where it can be conveniently read outside. It will also be advertised at council offices and on this website.

Representations can be made about the review in the same way as those about licence applications.

What are Relevant Representations?

For a representation to be relevant it must be one that is about the likely effect of the application on the promotion of the licensing objectives, or if a review, the impact of the premises licence on the objectives.

A representation made by an interested party will not be relevant if the Council considers it to be vexatious or frivolous.

Representations must be received within 28 days from the day after the date the licence was applied for, as specified in the newspaper and site notice advertisements placed by the licence applicant (or in the case of a review, the notices placed by the council).

Representations received after that time cannot be considered.

In the case of a review of a premises licence following a closure order by a magistrates court, an interested party or a responsible authority has a period of 7 days from when the licensing authority receives the order, in which to make representations about the review.