Local licensing forums

The forum's role is to review the licensing board's decisions and consider what these will mean for the community.

The forum may give advice and make recommendations to the licensing board. There objectives are to:

• prevent crime and disorder
• secure public safety
• prevent public nuisance
• protect and improve public health
• protect children from harm

The forums typically look at –

• What is happening in the area in relation to alcohol and licensed premises? 
• What is the effect of the Board’s decisions in the area? 
• Does more need to be done, and if so, how does this impact on the Licensing Policy?

The forums gather evidence from a range of sources to support its views.

You are welcome to apply if you have an interest in licensing and wish to act in the best interest of local communities.

The Forum should consist of a cross section of interested individuals including police, educational, social and health workers, young people, licensed trade representatives and members of the public.

The Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 (as amended) is the legislation which covers Local Licensing Forums.

Roles and responsibilities of the forum

Local Licensing Forums

Section 10 of the Act requires every council to establish a Local Licensing Forum for their area. Section 11 sets out the general functions of such Forums and Section 12 of the Act sets out certain duties placed on Licensing Boards in respect of Forums.

Role of Local Licensing Forums

The role of the Forum is to keep under review the operation of the licensing system in their area and to give advice and recommendations to the Licensing Board. This does not include reviewing or offering advice or recommendations in relation to any particular application or case before the Board. To facilitate this, the Forum is to be provided with copies of any relevant statistics which have been requested from any relevant source by the Board.

The Board has a duty to "have regard" to the Forum's views and must offer reasons where it takes decisions against the advice of the Forum.

The Act requires that a local Licensing Standards Officer must also be a member of the Forum, providing an important link to the operation of the system. Board members may also be invited to attend or to speak to the Forum. There is a mandatory requirement for a minimum of one formal meeting between the Board and Forum annually.

Links should also be established with the Local Alcohol Action Teams who are responsible for developing the local alcohol action plans to reduce alcohol related harm. A member of that team might be invited to sit on the Forum.

The effective Forum: independent, expert, trusted

An effective Local Licensing Forum should be widely recognised as being both independent and expert. As such it will enjoy the trust of all those whose interests are affected by licensing.

To ensure independence, the Forum must develop an identity that is clearly separate from the Licensing Board or any other interest or group of interests. It must have the capacity to be impartial..

To gain expertise, Forums will comprise a balanced representation of relevant interests and collectively will have knowledge to demonstrate expertise in licensing matters. 

The forum will be able to identify key licensing issues affecting their area and will be able to develop constructive advice on how to address them.

The Local Licensing Forum must also strive to develop the trust of the licence holders and the licensing board by producing impartial and effective advice to the Board.