Update from Glasgow Licensing Board 3 July 2020
We are currently receiving a high number of complaints in relation to pubs, restaurants and bars across the city selling "take away" pints and other alcoholic drinks in plastic cups directly to members of the public using the off-sales facility on their premises licence.
While the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 is silent in relation to the way in which alcohol is to be sold for off-sales, experience to date has established that this type of sale is clearly inconsistent with the licensing objectives of preventing crime and disorder and securing public safety in terms of the levels of street drinking and public urination which are being reported and observed as a direct consequence of such sales. The situation has now, sadly, become untenable and risks ruining the reputation of the vast majority of the city's responsible licensed trade.
We have been very supportive of efforts to keep the licensed trade in the city viable during this very challenging period. However, with the lifting of restrictions which will see the opening of external areas on 6th July and indoor areas shortly thereafter, as from Monday 6th July the sale of alcohol directly to members of the public for consumption off the premises will be considered to be inconsistent with the licensing objectives of preventing crime and disorder and securing public safety unless it is sold as part of a home delivery or sold as a pre-packaged, properly sealed product such as a bottle of wine or cans of beer.
Any premises who continue with this practice will risk having any occasional licence for an external area being revoked and/or a premises licence review being submitted to the Licensing Board.
This guidance is for current licence holders and anyone planning to apply for a new licence. It explains the changes we are making to our Licensing services to help minimise the disruption caused to licence holders by Covid-19.
Everyone has a role to play in limiting the spread of Covid-19. Licence holders, including taxi and private hire car drivers, are reminded to follow Government advice including advice on isolation if you have symptoms.
Please note that any issues in relation to the transmission of Covid-19 and the operation of taxis and private hire cars is a matter for the Scottish Government taking into account the medical and health advice available to them.
Face to Face Appointments
We are not currently offering appointments at our Service Desk.
Committee and Board Meetings
Meetings of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee and the City of Glasgow Licensing Board have recommenced, taking place via Microsoft Teams. If you are required to attend a meeting you will be notified in writing.
Submitting Applications
The Licensing Section is currently operating a limited service.
The Licensing Service Desk remains closed however applications can now be lodged byemail to LicensingEnquiries@glasgow.gov.uk or by post to Licensing Section, Glasgow City Council, City Chambers, Glasgow, G2 1DU.
If you lodge an application by email the Licensing Section will contact you as soon as possible to arrange payment of the fee by BACS. If you send the application by post, please include payment by cheque or postal order. Please do not send cash by post.
The Licensing Section is currently operating a limited service.
The Licensing Service Desk remains closed however renewal applications can now be lodged by email to LicensingEnquiries@glasgow.gov.uk or by post to Licensing Section, Glasgow City Council, City Chambers, Glasgow, G2 1DU
*If you lodge an application by email the Licensing Section will contact you as soon as possible to arrange payment of the fee by BACS. If you send the application by post, please include payment by cheque or postal order. Please do not send cash by post.
Important Information relating to renewal applications:
To enable the Licensing Section to assist business recovery and process applications, please do not lodge renewal applications until the month or extended month of expiry.
Please note you can now submit your Private Hire Car Driver or Taxi Driver renewal application online at https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/article/26401/Application-Form-for-Grant-or-Renewal-of-Taxi-Drivers-or-Private-Hire-Car-Drivers-Licence
*Important Information relating to "renewal" of existing HMO applications:
Where a licence holder is intending to renew more than five (5) HMO applications at the same time ("bulk applications"), please email licensingenquiries@glasgow.gov.uk of this intention, with the email title "HMO Bulk Applications". A member of the licensing team will then be in touch with you as soon as possible to discuss your bulk applications prior to you lodging them. Please do not submit bulk applications until a member of the licensing team has responded to your email.
Certificate for the Introduction to the role of the professional Taxi and Private Hire Car Driver at SCQF Level 5
Given the Covid-19 situation, the Licensing and Regulatory Committee decided to delay the implementation of the Certificate in Introduction to the Role of the Professional Taxi and Private Hire Driver at SCQF level 5 as a requirement for the renewal of a taxi or private hire car driver's licence.
The position will be reviewed by the Licensing and Regulatory Committee by April 2021.
Topographical Test
The Topographical Test on 31 March 2020 has been postponed. Please do not attend the City Chambers on 31 March 2020 to sit this test. The Licensing section will contact you as soon as possible to re-arrange the Topographical Test.
Vehicle Inspections
The Inspection Centre will reopen from the 17 August 2020. However, due to the large volume of inspections to be carried out only annual, random and substitute vehicle inspections will take place initially. With new guidance, processes and health and safety measures taking effect, this is a new way of working for the team at the Inspection Centre.
You will receive a letter from the Licensing Authority informing you of the date and time of your inspection. Please do not attend the Inspection Centre without an appointment unless instructed to do so by a member of the Inspection or Enforcement Team.
Please note that this could result in your vehicle being suspended until the inspection has taken place.
The body of the email should detail:
Temporary Relaxation of Policy and Conditions
Update: Please note the period of surrender of a taxi or private hire car licence has now been extended from 7 days to 6 months.
Where a taxi or private hire car is not being used as such and is 'off the road', the taxi or private hire element of the insurance may be cancelled provided that the vehicle remains insured as required by the relevant Road Traffic Legislation.
Please email Licensing Enquiries to advise if you have taken such action indicating 'Off road, your plate number and registration number' in the heading of the email.
This will result in the taxi or private hire car licence being temporarily suspended. When it is intended to resume operating the taxi or private hire car, please email Licensing Enquiries to advise of that intention. The vehicle will be required to undergo and pass inspection and the relevant taxi or private hire insurance must also be provided before the suspension will be recalled. If the licence is currently suspended and the licence is due for renewal, the renewal application must be formally lodged before the date (or extended date) of expiry of the licence.
Private Hire Cars
The current policy regarding a private hire car being taken out of service and replaced when it becomes 7 years old has temporarily been suspended.
Taxi Vehicles
The 5 year age limit for all taxi applications for new and substitute vehicles was removed in August 2019, subject to the replacement vehicle being a newer vehicle than that currently licensed. This policy is temporarily relaxed for operators of taxis in severe financial hardship, subject to the following:-
Replacement for Electric Steps
Replacement electric steps for many taxis are no longer being manufactured (generally by AVS) resulting in difficulty sourcing replacements/parts for broken steps. Where electric steps are broken and a replacement electric step is not available, these may be replaced with mechanical retractable steps with an associated buzzer and warning light.
UPDATE: GUIDANCE FOR LICENSED TAXI AND PRIVATE HIRE CARS- 22 JUNE 2020
Guidance has recently been produced for Taxi and Private Hire Car Licence Holders by the Environmental Health/Trading Standards Expert Officers' Group. This Guidance has recently been accepted by the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland.
The Guidance covers the following matters:
The Licensing Authority requires all Taxi and Private Hire Car Licence Holders to comply with the Guidance issued.
Please find below the full Guidance: Updated Guidance for Holders of Taxi and Private Hire Licences [137kb]
UPDATE: POSITION ON THE USE OF PROTECTIVE PARTITIONS/SCREENS IN LICENSED PRIVATE HIRE CARS - 22 JUNE 2020
If you hold a Private Hire Car Licence and wish to fit a protective screen into your licensed vehicle, the screen must comply with the following specification from the Guidance document:
Consideration should also be given to ensure that:
Screens should also be cleaned regularly (see Cleaning of vehicles), including between passenger journeys and changes of driver with disinfectant.
If you hold a Private Hire Car Licence and wish to fit a protective screen into your licensed vehicle, before doing so you must:
Email LicensingEnquiries@glasgow.gov.uk with the title "Proposed Protective Screen - PHC (insert plate number)". Please state in your email that you propose to fit a protective screen in your licensed vehicle and the proposed screen complies with the specification set out in the Guidance for Taxi and Private Hire Car document displayed on the Council's website. Please also provide in your email a letter from your insurer confirming that the necessary insurance would be unaffected by the proposed installation of the protective screen in your licensed vehicle and certification from your vehicle's manufacturer confirming that the protective screen does not compromise the integrity of the vehicle structure.
Please note that all protective screens must be removed from the licensed vehicle for all inspections of the vehicle carried out at the Council's Taxi and
Private Hire Testing and Inspection Centre.
Fixed Credit Card Machines in Taxis
The Licensing Authority has approved the fitting of fixed credit card machines in licensed taxis. The credit card machine must be fitted to the inside of the passenger compartment of the licensed taxi as shown in the picture below:
Frequently asked Questions (FAQs)
Question | Answer | |
I have a medical appointment at People Asset Management (PAM) and I have Covid -19, what should I do? | If you or a family member who you share a household with has Covid-19 or any of the symptoms and are self-isolating please phone PAM on 0141 428 3900 to notify them that you will be unable to attend your appointment. Please note that in this situation, you are strongly advised not to operate as a driver and follow Government guidance on Covid-19. | |
I am having difficulty trying to contact People Asset Management (PAM) what should I do? | If the office at PAM is closed as a result of Covid-19 please email Licensing Enquiries with your name, date of birth and the date of your appointment with PAM. In this situation, you will still be able to operate as a licensed driver subject to following Government guidance on Covid-19. |
Update regarding Liquor Applications:
Update regarding Liquor Applications:
Licensing is currently operating a limited service.
The Licensing Service Desk remains closed however applications can now be lodged byemail to LicensingBoard@glasgow.gov.uk or by post to Licensing Board, Glasgow City Chambers, George Square, Glasgow, G2 1DU.
If you lodge an application by email Licensing will contact you as soon as possible to arrange payment of the fee by BACS. If you send the application by post, please include payment by cheque or postal order. Please do not send cash by post.
Food Takeaway and Delivery Services
Following the announcement by the UK Government regarding a relaxation of planning rules, the Licensing Board is supportive of licensed premises which wish to provide a food take away and food delivery service.
Where the premises sell food and are licensed for both on and off-sales of alcohol, the delivery of alcohol with food will also be permitted, subject to compliance with the appropriate provisions within the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Licensing Board's alcohol delivery conditions which can be found at Part 9.3 of the Licensing Board's Policy Statement.
Personal Licence Holder - Training
Update: Please note the updated position below regarding an automatic six month extension on the timescales to undertake your training and to submit your training certificate.
Personal Licence holders are required to undergo refresher training every five years and to provide a copy of their training certificate to the Licensing Board.
If you are unable to take a refresher training course as a result of:
Please be assured that your Personal Licence will remain in effect.
You will be given an automatic six month extension on the timescales to undertake your training and to submit your training certificate.
We will continue to review this position and may apply a further extension if necessary. The guidance will continue to be updated.
If you need to submit your training certificate, please use our Online Form.
Frequently asked Questions (FAQs)
Question | Answer | |
Can I open my premises early for food outwith licensed hours? | Yes, subject to Government guidance on Covid-19 | |
My outdoor area is licensed by occasional licences, will I need to submit further applications to keep operating? | Glasgow City Council and the Licensing Board have put a number of measures in place to support the reopening and recovery of the city's licensed trade. This work has been led by the City Services Group which was formed to provide a single source of guidance and support for businesses in the city as they navigate their way through the easing of the lockdown restrictions. One aspect of this support was to introduce a streamlined process to apply for section 59 roads consent for the use of a public space together with an occasional licence for the sale of alcohol for an extended period. The streamlined process also meant that applications for matters such as planning consent would not be required for these temporary external areas where it has been considered by the City Services Group or where it is following the planning guidance on the City Services Group webpages. These temporary arrangements are due to come to an end on 31 March 2021. In order to continue to support the licensed trade through this difficult period, these temporary arrangements are to be extended to 31 March 2022. Unless we contact you to the contrary, your existing occasional licence and section 59 consent (if applicable) will be automatically extended to 31 March 2022without the need for an application or fee. This includes occasional licences for external areas on private ground such as car parks and beer gardens. There will be a very small number of premises where we may need to make adjustments to the existing permissions - affected licence holders will be contacted directly to discuss any proposed changes. The operation of licensed premises and outdoor areas will continue to be subject:
Licence holders should continue to keep up to date with the guidance issued by the Scottish Government and continue to review and implement any changes to their operation so as to ensure ongoing compliance. It is also very important that licence holders continue to have regard to the impact that outdoor areas can have on local residents and they should at all times operate as "good neighbours", particularly in relation to issues such as the removal and storage of furniture, noise, waste disposal, litter and the impact of customers smoking where there are residential premises directly above the outdoor area. Outdoor areas should also only be set up and used where it is safe to do so, taking account of the weather conditions and forecast. While these occasional licences will continue to apply for an extended period of time, they are all granted subject to the condition that if an outdoor area is operated in a manner inconsistent with one or more of the licensing objectives and the issues cannot be adequately resolved, the occasional licence may be revoked. The Council will apply similar considerations to other relevant consents and permissions forming part of the streamlined process. Please also note that while these temporary arrangements have been extended, it does not mean that these will automatically become permanent arrangements. The need to apply for the appropriate section 59 consent, licence, planning permission and building warrant will be reinstated for anyone considering these as a longer term arrangement. Information, advice and guidance from the City Services Group can be found at www.glasgow.gov.uk/cityservices | |
Will annual fees for licensed premises change this year (2020) in light of Covid-19? | The Licensing Board has agreed that there will be a one third reduction in fees for all premises with on-sales as part of their licence. This will include premises with both on and off-sales. The annual fees for off-sales premises will remain unchanged. Annual fee letters will also be sent out to licence holders soon. |
Rescheduled Events
If you have already lodged a Public Entertainment Licence and wish to re-schedule your event to another date(s), please email Licensing Enquiries with the heading Public Entertainment Licence - (name of event).
If you do wish to have your event on another date you will not be charged by the Licensing Authority for the change of date. The Licensing Authority will require from you an updated Permission to Use for the new dates.
We will continue to update this guidance as necessary. If you have an urgent specific query you can contact us by email. Due to the anticipated volume of enquiries please be aware that it may take some time to respond.
Liquor and Gambling | All other Licence Types |
Email: Licensing Board | Email: Licensing Enquiries |