The Government has finally published the regulations which revise the application form which must be used to renew personal licences from 5 January 2014.
Last month, the Home Office published guidance on the renewal process, confirming publicans with personal licences expiring early next year will need to complete and submit a new simplified application form to their local authority (LA).
As expected, the revised form removes any requirement to include a fee, photographs or a criminal conviction certificate.
LAs will acknowledge receipt of the form via email, unless acknowledgement by post is specifically requested.
However, due to primary legislation, there is still a requirement to include a current personal licence, but the Home Office is expected to issue further guidance to LAs as to the form of licence which can be included with any application, ie. paper or photocard parts.
The development comes after a prolonged period with licensees unsure how to proceed because of delays with the Deregulation Bill, which removes the requirement to renew personal licences, coming into force.
Legal licensing form Poppleston Allen said there is a requirement to state where an applicant is ‘ordinarily resident’, and if that address is not the last address the LA has on record, then notification of a change of address would also need to be made, with a £10.50 fee payable.
Finally, there is also a requirement to disclose any relevant or foreign convictions on the form.
