The Government has promised to ‘take on board' local authority recommendations to improve licensing laws as council concerns grow.

Ten councils have been scrutinising the effects of the new legislation on local government since it was introduced last year. It passed responsibility for pub and club drinking licenses on to councils instead of magistrates and extended opening hours, but the ten authorities chosen by ministers have hit out at potential licensees abusing rules on temporary event notices (TENs) if they fail to get their way on conventional licenses. Westminster City Council has already slammed the practice because only the police can block TENs, while local authorities and residents are ignored.