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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Drink laws 'hit council budgets' | Drink laws 'hit council budgets' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The new round-the-clock drinking laws in England and Wales will leave town halls with a £95m budget shortfall, local authority leaders have said. | The new round-the-clock drinking laws in England and Wales will leave town halls with a £95m budget shortfall, local authority leaders have said. |
| The Local Government Association said the three-year deficit could have an impact on future council tax bills. | The Local Government Association said the three-year deficit could have an impact on future council tax bills. |
| Councils took over responsibility for licences from magistrates when the act came into force in November 2005. | |
| The government intended income from fees would cover administration and enforcement costs. | The government intended income from fees would cover administration and enforcement costs. |
| The Department of Culture, Media and Sport is due to release the findings of an independent panel led by Lord Elton which examined the 2003 Licensing Act. | The Department of Culture, Media and Sport is due to release the findings of an independent panel led by Lord Elton which examined the 2003 Licensing Act. |
| But according to the LGA, the government had failed to meet assurances that the costs would not impact on council finances. | But according to the LGA, the government had failed to meet assurances that the costs would not impact on council finances. |
| "Councils have pressed ministers at every possible opportunity to fulfil their pledge that the new licensing regime would not leave council taxpayers out of pocket," said LGA chairman Lord Bruce-Lockhart. | "Councils have pressed ministers at every possible opportunity to fulfil their pledge that the new licensing regime would not leave council taxpayers out of pocket," said LGA chairman Lord Bruce-Lockhart. |
| "Despite repeated assurances to the contrary, local authorities have been left facing a financial black hole." | "Despite repeated assurances to the contrary, local authorities have been left facing a financial black hole." |
| Review power | Review power |
| The act allowed pubs, bars and clubs to apply to extend their drinking hours. | The act allowed pubs, bars and clubs to apply to extend their drinking hours. |
| Premises selling food or alcohol after 2300 all needed to apply for a new licence, even if they did not intend to change their opening hours. | Premises selling food or alcohol after 2300 all needed to apply for a new licence, even if they did not intend to change their opening hours. |
| Residents are also now able to ask local authorities to review licences. | Residents are also now able to ask local authorities to review licences. |
| The LGA said figures indicated councils had spent £36.4m on implementing and enforcing the Act in the 2004-5 financial year, £88.8m in the following 12 months and £75.4m this year. | The LGA said figures indicated councils had spent £36.4m on implementing and enforcing the Act in the 2004-5 financial year, £88.8m in the following 12 months and £75.4m this year. |
| Income from licensing fees over the three years totalled just over £106m, it said. | Income from licensing fees over the three years totalled just over £106m, it said. |