If you hold a Premises Licence or Club Premises Certificate, you will need to pay an annual fee. This is a requirement set by the Licensing Act 2003 and fees are set by the government.
Fee amount
The fee is based on the rateable value of the premises.
The fee is based on the forthcoming year and not the previous year and reflects the costs for all council departments for administration, enforcement and inspection of licensed premises.
| Rateable value | Band | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Up to £4,300 | A | £70 |
| £4,300 to £33,000 | B | £180 |
| £33,001 to £87,000 | C | £295 |
| £87,000 to £125,000 | D | £320 |
| £125,001 and above | E | £350 |
Payment due date
The fee is payable each year on the anniversary of the date the licence was initially granted. The fee is payable regardless of if the holder of the current licence intends to close the business at some point during the coming year or has taken over mid year.
Who pays the fee
The responsibility of paying the fee lies with the premises licence holder. If you have recently become the premises licence holder, you will still be required to pay this fee. Councils do not have any discretion under the Act to waive or reduce the fee.
Invoices
There is no legal requirement for councils to issue reminders or produce invoices. We help licence holders by sending out invoices and one reminder.
The invoice is sent from the finance department and not the licensing unit. If you have queries regarding payment please contact the licensing unit.
How to make payment
There are a number of ways that you can make payment of your annual fee.
Failure to pay
Licensing Authorities can suspend licences due to non-payment of fees.
This change has been implemented to save local authorities thousands of pounds currently spent in recovering unpaid annual fees through Councils own recovery sections and bailiffs.
If the licence holder does not pay the fee within 21 days of the due date then the Licensing Authorities can suspend the licence and no licensable activities will be able to take place. Once payment is received then the suspension can be lifted.
If there is a genuine administrative error made in relation to the person liable for payment then there will be no suspension of the licence.
For more information contact the Licensing Team by emailing licensing@gravesham.gov.uk or visit the Gravesham Borough Council website.
Write to: Licensing Unit, Medway Council, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TR.