After section 193A of the Licensing Act 1964 there shall be inserted—

“Power of clerk to licensing justices to grant certain transfers etc.193AA.

(1)

This section applies where—

(a)

the power of licensing justices to transfer a justices' licence for any premises is exercisable by virtue of section 8(1) of this Act, and

(b)

application is made for the transfer of the licence or the grant of an interim authority.

(2)

If the applicant—

(a)

holds a justices' licence, or

(b)

has held such a licence at any time in the three years immediately preceding the date of the application,

the clerk to the licensing justices may grant the application on behalf of the justices unless he considers that there are circumstances which make it desirable for the matter to be considered by the justices.

(3)

The functions of the clerk to the licensing justices under this section may be exercised otherwise than at licensing sessions.”.