How to object to a licensing application

Types of licenses that can be objected to

Licensing law allows the public to object to the following types of licence application dealt with by the council:

• Premises Licenses under the Licensing Act 2003
• Club Premises Certificates under the Licensing Act 2003
• Premises Licenses under the Gambling Act 2005
• Special Treatments Licenses
• New applications for an approved premises for marriages and civil partnerships

A list of current licence applications together with closing dates for applications can be viewed on the current applications page.

Who can object to a licence?

For applications under the Licensing Act 2003, if you are a person who lives in the vicinity of the premises, are a body representing persons who live in that vicinity, a person involved in a business in that vicinity or a body representing persons involved in such businesses you can lodge an objection by writing to the licensing service before the closing date for objections. You must provide your full name and address and grounds for the objection.

Objections must relate to one or more of these four licensing objectives.

1. The prevention of crime and disorder
2. Public safety
3. The prevention of nuisance
4. The protection of children from harm

For applications under the Gambling Act 2005 you must live sufficiently close to the premises to be likely to be affected by the authorised activities, have business interests that might be affected by the authorised activities, or represents persons who satisfy these conditions to be able to object.

Objections to gambling premises applications must relate to on or more of a different set of three licensing objectives

1. Preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder or being used to support crime
2. Ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way
3. Protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling.

Applications for Special Treatments Licenses and new approved premises for marriages and civil partnerships have no set objectives however the grounds for the objection must be relevant to the application and reasons for the objection must be given.

Objectors do not have to live or have a business in the London Borough of Southwark, therefore residents across a border boundary that are affected by a proposed application can make a representation.

When to object to a licence application

Objections should be made by the given closing date. Closing dates for current applications can be seen on the current applications page.

How to object to a licence application

If you wish to object to an application for a licence, you must put your objection in writing and send it to the Licensing Service. You must include the following information

• your name and signature
• your address details
  
• the date you wrote the letter
• the application that you are opposed to
• the reasons why you are opposed to the application

For more information, download the guide to licensing representations for the Licensing Act 2003.

If an objection is being made on behalf of a group (e.g. a tenants or residents association), then proof of the group's decision to make the objection must be sent to the Licensing Service along with the objection letter. This could be a document such as minutes of a meeting.

If a petition is submitted the organiser must:

• Provide their own contact details
• state clearly the application that is being opposed and the reason for opposition on each page of the petition
• ensure all names and addresses are clearly legible and preferably written in black ink
• show the date the signatures are collected on each page

Objections will not be accepted if they are libelous, slanderous, racist or of unacceptable nature. Objections relating to impact of new businesses on existing trade can not be taken into account.

Anonymous objections

Copies of objections are given to the applicant so that he or she may fully understand the case being made against the application. Initially the applicant is not given the names and addresses of the objectors, but if the objection is pursued to a public hearing, then the objectors' names and addresses must be made known.

What happens to the objection

We usually try to help the applicant and the objector reach an agreement. This may be done through either a conciliation meeting or written exchanges. If the applicant and the objector still can't agree, then the application and all objections to it will be considered at a public hearing.

The Council will then decide whether the licence will be issued or not and if any conditions will be attached to the grant of the licence.