Councils are sceptical about whether the new licensing duties will be properly funded or effective, a survey by the Municipal Year Book has revealed.

The new licensing Bill has been branded ‘poorly thought out' and ‘bureaucratic' by licensing officers. The survey found an overwhelming majority of the respondents, 89%, believe councils should be able to set the price of a licence themselves; 39% believe the income raised should also be used to spend on other public services; of these a third believe the extra revenue should be spent on community policing and 30% say street services; two thirds of councils say the price of a license should not reflect the wealth of an area; over half, 52%, do not believe the Bill will achieve its aim of reducing alcohol misuse; over a third, 35%, also anticipate an increase in alcohol-related disturbances in their area if 24-hour licensing is introduced with 27% still unsure and 38% saying it will have no effect.