THE leader of West Wiltshire District Council has voiced concern about a shortfall in funding needed to cope with the overhaul of licensing laws.

Cllr Tony Phillips believes the Government has not provided enough funding to cope with the administration of the Act, which will allow pubs to apply for 24-hour licences, and predicts the taxpayer could end up footing the bill.

The Act, which comes into force next month, will transfer the responsibility for licensing nightclubs, pubs and other premises selling alcohol from magistrates to local authorities.

It will enable the public to appeal against applications for extended hours.

Cllr Phillips said three new administration staff would have to be recruited, costing up to £100,000.

In addition, the council could face hefty costs if appeals are taken on and lost, potentially costing the authority around £20,000 each time.

Cllr Phillips said he could not predict how much the administration would cost the council in total, but Bristol City Council has estimated it would cost them £0.75m.

Although the Government had said the licence charges would cover additional costs placed on the authority, Cllr Phillips said he was not convinced.

He said: "The first charges that have come out show that in no way will they cover the charges we will incur.

"If the income and expenditure don't meet the only way we can recoup that money is by increasing the council tax."

Cllr Phillips is also worried about the increased workload on councillors, with up to 2,500 applications expected in the first six months, and councillors faced with carrying out appeal hearings.

He said councillors would have to work three days a week for six months to cover the workload.

Most councillors work during the day and receive between £1,500-£2,000 in expenses and allowances for their council work, with no additional pay for extra hours. He said it was impossible to predict how many appeals there would be but said: "When people start urinating over the garden and shouting in the street at four in the morning they are going to object.

"People will blame the local authority for allowing the licences to go ahead and then will blame the police for not controlling antisocial behaviour."

In October, Trowbridge Inspector Glynn Hookings said he was worried the relaxed licensing laws could lead to increased levels of binge drinking, and that he was concerned his resources could reach breaking point.