NEW laws coming into force next month that may allow pubs to stay open all night have been slammed by a Worcester licensing chief.

The Government claims the new Licensing Act 2003 will cut significant amounts of red tape at a stroke - transferring the responsibility of granting licences from magistrates courts to local councils.

However, Councillor David Clark, chairman of Worcester City Council's licensing committee, claims it will disintegrate into chaos and small businesses may suffer as a consequence.

"This legislation is supposed to be aimed at making things simple, but it doesn't," said Coun Clark. "It simply passes on the administration and cost to local government.

"The sting in the tail is that the council is not given the funding to do the job. The local taxpayer must do that.

Under the Act, businesses will be able to apply for a single "premises licence", covering all the licensable activities they wish to carry on.

Hearings will be needed only if there are objections, and premises licences will not need regular renewal, as the current liquor licences or public entertainment licences do.

All late-night cafes and take-away shops will need a licence to serve hot food or alcohol to the public on or from the premises between 11pm and 5am, though there are exemptions for hotels, clubs and vending machines.

But Coun Clark said under the existing law, all that a restaurateur has to do is to stand up in court and satisfy the justices that he is fit to hold a liquor licence and that their premises are suitable and safe.

After the Act comes into force, however, they will have to complete a 20-page form, telling the local authority how they propose to "promote the four licensing objectives" - the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance and the protection of children from harm.

Coun Clark asked: "Is this really less bureaucracy when our staff have to assess hundreds of 20-page applications?

"It is an intolerable burden that the Government does not seem to appreciate.

"I wish this Government would stop trying to fix things that are not broken.

"They do not have to deal with subsequent problems, find staff to carry it out or provide funds."

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