Covid 19 - What you need to know - Remote licensing hearings are lawful

For many the swift advance of the Covid19 outbreak and Government response has caught them unawares and created unexpected issues.

One such issue was the impact of the ‘Lockdown’ on applications running prior to the stringent measure imposed to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The conducting of hearings remotely has been widely debated but, for once, there appears to be a growing consensus in the legal community that they are permissible.

Phillip Kolvin QC, Charles Holland and Gary Grant who are all leading Licensing Counsel agree and have published their rationales for others to consider and follow.

When the Coronavirus Bill and its subordinate regulations pass into law, local authorities will have direct statutory authority to hold remote meetings.