EHOs reveal their worries over reforms

A local councillor has warned that environmental health officers will not be able to carry out thorough inspections of hotels and restaurants if proposals in the Government's White Paper on licensing reform become law.

One of the recommendations is that the cost of licences should be cut to £200 and £400 each and last for 10 years. They currently have to be renewed every 12 months and can cost £3,500 for a large hotel or restaurant.

Ewan Cameron, shadow chairman of environment for Camden Council in London, said: "If you move the cost of the licences to £400 and make it an equal playing field, who is going to pay for the inspections?"

He is concerned that if councils do not have enough money to conduct proper inspections, lives could be at risk.

The paper is proposing that magistrates' licensing rights should be abolished and all licensing powers handed to local authorities. Magistrates currently grant liquor licences while local councils are responsible for entertainment licences.

Councils set the fees and use the money to carry out health and safety inspections.

Cameron added: "Unless a hotel or restaurant has a licence stating how it must operate, how can we guarantee that when you go to a hotel or restaurant you are safe? Customers will be putting their lives at risk."

The White Paper is the subject of a consultation exercise which runs until the end of the month. Any changes are not expected to become law until 2002 or 2003.

by Louise Bozec