Licensing

Since November 2005, the Licensing Authority in Oxford City Council has decided applications for Premises Licences, which cover alcohol, "regulated entertainment" and late night refreshment.

"Regulated entertainment" covers many forms of public entertainment including music, films, plays, dance, indoor sports and the provision of facilities for making music or for dancing.

The new Licensing Act 2003 also introduced flexible opening hours, Club Premises Certificates for registered members' clubs, Temporary Event Notices and Personal Licences.

Statement of Licensing Policy

The Council as a 'Licensing Authority' is required under s5(1) of the Licensing Act 2003 to determine its policy with respect to the exercising of its licensing functions under the Act. The council must publish its policy and must review it every three years or at other such times as it considers appropriate.

This policy was formulated after consultation with:

• the Chief Officer of the Police for Oxford City
• the Fire Authority for Oxford City
• holders of premises licences, club premises certificates, or their representatives, and residents groups, parish councils for their views.

 Anyone wishing to obtain a hard copy can contact the Licensing Authority for one.

To see the Licensing Act 2003 in full and the statutory guidance, regulations and fees please visit the Department for Culture, Media and Sport website.

The Council is required to review their Licensing Policy Statement at least every three years, our first policy came into effect in January 2005. After consultation in summer of 2007 the policy was approved by Full Council. The Licensing Authority has now revised and re-published the policy which came into effect on the 7th of January 2008.

To download a copy of the Statement of Licensing Policy, please use the link below:

Statement of Licensing Policy (320 KB)

To download a copy of the Statement of Licensing Policy which contains evidence submitted by Thames Valley Police to support Oxford City's Special Saturation Policy, please use the link below (because of the size of this file, it may take some time to download):

Statement of Licensing Policy (6835 KB)

Public Access

The Public Access section allows you to search for licence applications. You can also view the details of applications and make representations about them in this section.

Representations

The Representations section gives detailed information on how make representations about licence applications.

Premises Licences

This section applies to anyone who wants to:

• sell or supply alcohol
• provide hot food or drink between 23:00 and 05:00
• provide entertainment, including plays, films, indoor sporting events, music and dancing

The Premises Licences section contains details on how to apply for a new licence and change an existing one.

Temporary Event Notices

Temporary Event Notices (TENs) are used to cover one-off events where there is no other licence in force, or where an existing licence will not cover a planned event.

The Temporary Event Notice section explains how to use the notices for any event involving one or more of the events listed above.

Personal Licences

Any premises which plan to sell or supply alcohol (except registered clubs, for which see below) will need at least one person with a Personal Licence.

The Personal Licence section explains how to apply for a Personal Licence and how they work. It also has information on changing details on a Personal Licence, for example the address.

Club Premises Certificates

Any qualifying members' club that plans to supply alcohol, or provide entertainment of the types listed above under "Premises Licences", will need a Club Premises Certificate.

The Club Premises Certificates section contains details on how to apply for a new certificate and change an existing one.

Other licensing systems

The Other Licensing Systems section includes information on licensing systems that were not affected by the Licensing Act 2003, for example taxi licensing.

Gambling Act 2005

The Gambling Act 2005 section includes information on the new gambling laws that come into force on 1 September 2007.

Oxford City Council licensing policy

For details of our licensing policy see our licensing policy page.

Other documents

Other related documents and links to useful information include:

• a glossary for the Licensing Act 2003
• the guide to the Act published by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (including FAQs) 
• text of the Licensing Act 2003
• the Secretary of State's Guidance on the Act (for licensing authorities and the police)
• Regulations under the Act (details of the application forms and when they apply)
• Fee Regulations under the Act (details of the fees and when they apply)
• Code of Practice and guidance for College Balls
• the draft pool of conditions for Premises Licences

Page last reviewed 4 Apr 2008

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