Licensing Divisions

The Board must, in terms of section 7 of the Act, publish in this policy a statement on the extent to which it considers there to be overprovision of licensed premises or overprovision of licensed premises of a particular description in any locality within the Board’s area. In making its assessment the Board consulted with the statutory consultees and other interested parties. The Board had regard to the statutory guidance published under section 142 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005. The Board considered the terms of its previous policy, its impact, and whether there was evidence of changes having occurred since the previous policy was agreed. The Board carefully considered all responses received and in particular found that information provided by Police Scotland, NHS Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire Council, and Alcohol Focus was of assistance.

The Board also had regard to the responses received to its overprovision survey. 

The Board considered that their assessment must be based on evidence of a causal link between alcohol related harm in a locality, and the availability of alcohol in that locality, such that it could be concluded that an increase in the number of licences would be likely to cause an increase in harm. 

The Board first used the information provided to determine localities within its area and determined that for the purpose of the overprovision assessment the whole of the Board’s area should be considered as one locality. 

Once the Board had reached the decision that the whole of Clydesdale was one locality it then looked at the number and capacity of licensed premises in the locality. The Board further analysed the aforementioned information and applied it together with their local knowledge of the area covered by the Division. The Board was aware that a large part of its area was of a rural nature. The Board were not satisfied that at this time that there was a sufficient link between the number of outlets selling alcohol and alcohol related problems to warrant a finding of overprovision in the locality. Accordingly, the Board are of the opinion that there is no overprovision within the Licensing Board area.