§ Mr. GardinerTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment her Department has made of the impact proposed increases in the cost of alcohol licences will have on(a) community clubs and (b) sports associations. [138602]
§ Estelle MorrisThe proposed levels of fees for club premises certificates and premises licences under the Licensing Act 2003 will lead to an increase in licensing fees for some community clubs and sports associations operating either as qualifying clubs under club premises certificates or under premises licences though many will also see a reduction in fees.
762WAny increases will arise because fees have been estimated on the basis of the actual costs to the licensing authority. Current fees are not set on a full cost recovery basis by the magistrates' courts. This change has been made because we do not consider it appropriate for the taxpayer to subsidise the consumption of alcohol in sports clubs or any other premises.
Any increase in fees should not, however, have a significant impact on any of these clubs or associations. Small clubs are likely to pay around £100 in the first year of the new licensing regime and £50 in subsequent years. This means that, for example, for a club with 25 members, the minimum needed to qualify as a qualifying club, a club premises certificate would cost about £4 per member in the first year and £2 per member in subsequent years.