IoL - ALL THINGS LICENSING GETTING TO KNOW THE INSTITUTE OF LICENSING
Article by Mike Smith, Vice Chair of the Institute of Licensing, South East Region and Senior Specialist for Licensing and Community Safety at Guildford Borough Council
I had the huge pleasure of attending the PHTM Expo on behalf of the Institute of Licensing. By day (and night) I am a Licensing Officer with Guildford Borough Council in Surrey. I am also a member of the Institute of Licensing (IoL) and serve on the South East Regional Committee as Events Officer and Vice Chair.
It is in this capacity that I was asked by the Institute to attend the Expo. I am a keen reader of PHTM and find it a valuable resource to understand the issues affecting the trade and as such I jumped at the chance to attend.
The Expo was my first ‘event’ in a post-covid world, as I imagine it was for a number of other attendees and any apprehension was swept away by the excitement which was evident in the MK Arena of being ‘back in person’ again.
Not only was I part of the seminar panel on Tuesday, answering questions from delegates, I also ‘manned’ the IoL stand on both days, with the purpose of engaging with members of the trade regarding the role of the IoL and the benefits that membership will bring.
WHAT IS THE INSTITUTE OF LICENSING?
I was surprised that a large number of delegates I spoke to believed that the IoL was solely an organisation which represented local Licensing Authorities. This is not the case. The IoL is a profes- sional body that represents anyone with an interest in licensing, and as every member of the taxi and private hire trade will either be required to hold a licence or work with someone that does, every member of the trade must therefore have an interest. The IoL is a broad-church organisation which has membership not just with Licensing Authorities, as believed by many of the delegates I spoke with at the
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Expo, but also membership amongst the trade, suppliers and the legal profession. With such a cross cutting membership, the aim is to bring stakeholders together in order to discuss licensing related issues, increase knowledge and build best practice.
In order to do this, the IoL produces a number of publications: the quarterly LINK (Licensing Information News & Knowledge) which is a magazine that does what is says on the tin and provides information, news and knowledge about all things licensing; and the more ‘legalistic’ Journal of Licensing which is produced three times a year and contains the latest legal information, case law and opinion on licensing matters. Both publications are sent out free to members.
In addition members are able to attend regional events. There are 12 regions covering the UK and each region puts on a number of events each year where members get to hear about the latest local and national issues affecting licensing. Generally these events are free of charge and also provide an excellent opportunity to ask questions of the experts presenting and network with other delegates. Many a licensing officer has been nobbled over the coffee break to discuss issues going on in their area, and many a legal expert will have been asked for their opinion on a matter during the usual Q & A session, which follows a presentation.
Finally, the IoL has an excellent communications network, not only sending out the latest news ‘as it happens’ via licensing flashes, but also a Members’ Forum where questions can be asked and advice sought from other members.
CHANGE IS COMING • KNOWLEDGE IS KEY
Change is coming • Knowledge is key, was the headline for the Expo and despite there not being any sign of outdated legislation being updated, there is certainly a huge amount going on in the industry.
From National Standards, tax conditionality, worker status, local policy updates, Clean Air Zones, electric cars, promised new best practice guidance, the
OCTOBER 2021
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