This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Independent report on Scotland's licensing system
04/11/2005
An independent report was published today examining proposed fees under the new licensing regime.
The report outlines the present and future costs of the licensing system and proposes an appropriate model to be used as the basis for a new fee setting system.
Ministers will consider the report when developing the new fee structure to accompany the Licensing (Scotland) Bill.
Further consultation will take place before any new fees regime is adopted. But Ministers have welcomed proposals which would minimise the impact on small businesses and see 82 per cent of licensed premises falling into the lowest two bands.
Deputy Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform George Lyon said:
"This independent report is a thorough and useful contribution to our work in developing the new fee structure to accompany our licensing legislation, which is currently before the Scottish Parliament. We will carefully consider these proposals and further consultations will take place before any new regime is adopted.
"Our aim is to provide consistency across the industry and to ensure local authorities and public services are not impaired by poor recovery of costs from the licensing system. We share the view that licence processing could be more efficient in the future and - although this would require some initial investment - it could lead to reductions in fees in the longer term.
"However, we want to minimise the impact on small businesses and the model this report proposes allows for allocation of fees across rateable value bands. This would see 82 per cent of licensed premises falling into the lowest two bands for charges, also helping to protect small businesses.
"At this stage, we are considering the report's comments and proposals. We would have further, public consultation before any firm proposals are put in place."
The independent review was carried out by York Consulting.