Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Act 2022

30 Civic licensing: how hearings may be held

(1) The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 is modified as follows.

(2) In schedule 1 (licensing: further provisions as to the general system), after paragraph 18A insert—

“How hearings may be held

18B (1) A licensing authority may determine that a hearing is to be held—

(a) in person,

(b) wholly through the use of remote facilities, or

(c) partly in person and partly through the use of remote facilities.

(2) When determining how a hearing is to be held, a licensing authority must take account of any views given on that issue by any person who notifies the authority of an intention to participate in the hearing.

(3) In sub-paragraph (1), “remote facilities” means any equipment or facility which—

(a) enables persons who are not in the same place to participate in the hearing, and

(b) enables those persons to speak to and be heard by each other (whether or not it enables those persons to see and be seen by each other).”.

(3) In schedule 2 (control of sex shops and sexual entertainment venues), after paragraph 24A insert—

“How hearings may be held

24B (1) A local authority may determine that a hearing is to be held—

(a) in person,

(b) wholly through the use of remote facilities, or

(c) partly in person and partly through the use of remote facilities.

(2) When determining how a hearing is to be held, a local authority must take account of any views given on that issue by any person who notifies the authority of an intention to participate in the hearing.

(3) In sub-paragraph (1), “remote facilities” means any equipment or facility which—

(a) enables persons who are not in the same place to participate in the hearing, and

(b) enables those persons to speak to and be heard by each other (whether or not it enables those persons to see and be seen by each other).”.