Councils call for licence fee powers* By John Harrington 28/10/2010 11:58
Councils have asked the Government for the right to set their own alcohol licence fees to plug shortfalls in their funding.
Morning Advertiser legal editor Peter Coulson said: "I think there's a danger ahead for the licensed trade, which could face quite large licence fee increases, particularly in urban areas."
Coulson feared a return to the kind of high fees charged for Public Entertainment Licences (PELs) before they were scrapped.
It seems to be overlooked but there is of course no longer an 'alcohol' licence. Any increase in the fees for Premises Licenses will only further limit live music and affect all the other non-alcohol activities that currently require this licence.