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The Council is responsible for the licensing of a wide range of activities and premises. The Licensing Team grant licences to ensure public confidence and safety and to minimise crime and disorder, nuisance and other disturbance to residents, visitors and businesses from licensable activities.

Contact Us

The Licensing Team

Havant Borough Council

Civic Offices

Civic Centre Road

Havant

PO9 2AX (Map)

Tel: 023 9244 6660 or 6592 (9.00am - 5.00pm, Monday - Friday)

E-mail: licensing@havant.gov.uk (24 hours)

On-Line Applications

Many of our licences are available through the EU Services Directive. This has been brought in to make it easier for service providers to offer their services to customers in all EU countries. However some licences, including taxi and gambling licences, are not covered by this initiative. Please follow the links to the relevant licensing area of interest for information, downloadable application forms or links to on-line applications (where available).

Tacit Consent

Tacit consent is the consent by silence. Where this may apply, the question 'Will tacit consent apply'? appears as part of the information given for relevant licensing areas. If the answer is yes, this means that you will be able to act as though your application is granted if you have not heard from the Local Authority by the end of the target completion period or have not been advised of any extension period. If the answer is no, then it has been deemed in the public interest that the Local Authority must fully process the application before it can be granted.

Link to Alcohol and Entertainment>>

The Licensing Act 2003 , referring to four licensing objectives, governs the licensing of premises and individuals involved with 'licensable activities' which include the sale and supply of alcohol, the provision of regulated entertainments (superceding Public Entertainment Licences) and the provision of late night refreshment. If any licensable activities are undertaken or provided, one or more of the following may be required: a premises licence for where any licensable activity takes place; a club premises licence where 'qualifying clubs' use club premises for 'qualifying club activities'; a temporary event notice used for limited basis temporary events involving licensable activities at premises that do not have a premises licence; a personal licence required by an individual wanting to supply or allow the supply of alcohol at premises holding a premises licence.

Link to Animals EH page>>

The council is responsible for licensing the following in connection with animal welfare provisions: animal breeding and boarding, riding stables, zoos, pet shops and dangerous wild animals.

Link to Charities>>

HBC licenses three types of charitable collections; house-to-house collections, street collections and society lotteries (raffles). It is important to obtain a licence where appropriate as it is an offence to hold collections for certain lotteries without one.

Links to Fireworks page at Hampshire Trading Standards

Information accessible about the Fireworks Act, changes in law, licensing and registration, firework safety and the sale of fireworks. Consumers information page>> Traders information page>>

Link to Gambling>>

Generally, gambling is unlawful in Great Britain (other than the National Lottery and spread betting) unless permitted by one or more of the authorisations from the Gambling Act 2005 (including remote gambling i.e. on-line). If any commercial gambling activities or facilities are undertaken or provided, one or more of the following may be required: an operator licence for provision of facilities for gambling and/or the manufacture, installation, repair or adaptation of gaming machines or gambling software; a personal licence for specified staff of those holding an operator licence and/or performing any function which may influence the outcome of gambling, or relating to receipt or payment of money in connection with gambling; a premises licence for fixed premises rather than online (remotely) where gambling takes place; a permit when providing various types of gaming machines. Operator and personal licenses are issued by the Gambling Commission (link to Gambling Commission website>>) whilst licensing authorities issue premises licences and permits and refer to three licensing objectives.

Link to Hackney Carriage and Private Hire>>

Hackney carriage or private hire licences are required by the driver, for the vehicle and by the person or company who takes the bookings (operator). Hackney carriages can be hailed in the street but private hire vehicles (commonly referred to as minicabs) have to be pre-booked. These licences cover the provision of a vehicle and driver for hire which includes not only the ordinary "taxi" but also airport runs, corporate journeys, limousine and classic vehicle hire. The only exemption is the use of vehicles for weddings and funerals.

Link to Highways HCC application forms>>

Licences available from HCC include: to place a skip on, erect scaffolding or a structure on, to cultivate or excavate part of, to erect banners, hang cables or decoractive lights on or over, to excavate to install apparatus and to deposit materials on the highway.