Department for Culture Media and Sport
High level ministers and licensing authorities were consulted after the implementation of the Licensing Act 2003 to help monitor and evaluate its impact.
DCMS invited a representative group of 10 licensing authorities to help monitor and evaluate the new licensing regime in 2005. These were called "Scrutiny Councils". 10 councils participated: Manchester, Taunton Deane, Blackpool, Cardiff, Birmingham, Newcastle, Nottingham, Brighton and Hove, Bristol and Havering.
Information and data about the practical implementation of the Act was collected on visits by DCMS to the each council. The information informs our wider monitoring and evaluation programme and has fed into the review of the licensing guidance.
The High Level Ministers / Senior Officials Group was established to allow DCMS to use evidence and experience from a full range of senior stakeholders touched by licensing reform. The Group provides leadership and advice to Ministers as it reviews the effects of the Act and considers future policy developments.