Information supplied within a Freedom of Information request is the copyright of Thurrock Council. All information that has been supplied is for personal use only.
Except for permitted acts under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, the information supplied may not be copied, distributed, published, or exploited for commercial purposes or financial gain without the explicit written consent of Thurrock Council.
The amount of deficit or expected deficit (if any) resulting from from the council's obligation to deal with applications.
In establishing the new licensing regime, the government opted to set national prescribed fees rather than allowing local authorities discretion to set their own fees locally to reflect their actual costs. As a result, local authorities have been concerned that projected income from licensing may not pay for the additional legal, administrative and inspection costs required to successfully operate the new system.
Thurrock Council's Regulation Department prudently took into account the need for additional resources when setting it's annual budget but it remains to be seen whether fee income, which is likely to fall after the transition period, will be sufficient to fully cover the costs of enforcement work in future years.
In response to local government's concerns, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) have appointed an independent panel made up of representatives from the trade and leisure industries, community groups and local authorities. The panel will review the Licensing Act fees to ensure that they are set at the right level for businesses and for local authorities. It is anticipated that the panel will issue its final report in Autumn 2006.
01375 652652
01375 652359
