No Richard this 'spin' really won't do.

Shambles next posting appears to be based on ignoring the fact that every building which sells alcohol already has to have a licence (at not insignificant cost) although that licence is currently handled by the licencing justices rather than the LA.

The actual cost of the current justice's licence is not really a significant cost at all. Perhaps you would like to inform us of the current figure?

The annual maintenance payment, which cannot result in any changes to the licence being instigated by the LA, will be far less than the regular reapplications to the justices for new licences.

Let us say £150 for this annual inspection charge and leave out the cost (for 10 years) of the personal licence and the cost of the Premises Licence (for the life of the current business). Not only is this alone more than the current justice's licence, it is more than many local authorities currently charge annually for their PELs.

There are some LAs currently charging a lot of money for their PELs, some in the many thousands of pounds. But most of the (rural) LAs actually set the figures very reasonably. For example.........

A cafe or coffee bar (not serving alcohol) in my borough that wished to obtain a PEL for live music would now pay £220 a year. Under the new Act they will have to pay for the Premises Licence (for the life of the current business there) and the annual inspection charge (whatever this figure turns out to be). They may also find themselves next door and in commpetion with a church or church hall also providing commercial entertainment.

The church would not need a Premises Licence and would be required to pay pay nothing at all. The church hall would need the Premises Licence and the annual inspection but would not be charged for either.