Written Question · S3W-29352 · Session 3
What its position is regarding charging by local authorities in respect of licensing fees and whether it will issue guidance to an authorit…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is regarding charging by local authorities in respect of licensing fees and whether it will issue guidance to an authority of which the licensing fee regime appears to operate at a significant surplus to the amount expended.
The answer
In determining any fee, the Licensing (Fees) (Scotland) Regulations 2005 require a licensing board to have regard to the desirability that the total fees payable are broadly equivalent to the expenses incurred in administering the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 during that period.
The government expects where any fee increase has exceeded expenditure, the licensing board should seek to provide a reduction in the subsequent annual fees. This is the position the government have stated publicly, including when the Justice Committee considered the fee regulations.
The government expects where any fee increase has exceeded expenditure, the licensing board should seek to provide a reduction in the subsequent annual fees. This is the position the government have stated publicly, including when the Justice Committee considered the fee regulations.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S3W-29352 by reference.