Ealing Council has been accused by local conservatives of being unable to organise a “booze-up in a brewery”.

Despite issuing repeated warnings to businesses to get licensing applications in on time, Ealing Council did not apply to its own licensing department for council owned halls in Ealing, Acton and Greenford. This failure impacted three events in December at which alcohol was to be sold.

Conservative Regulatory Spokesman, Cllr John Popham asked the administration how much the Council blunder would cost residents in compensation.  He was provided with as follows:

1. Event 10/12/2005 - £4,996.25

2. Event 16/12/2005 - £2,200.00

3. Event 17/12/2005 - £4,961.00

    Total                      £12,157.25

Cllr Popham said that this was just latest crisis relating to licensing in Ealing. He stated “Things have become pretty dire when the Council cannot follow its own rules. How can the Council expect businesses to obey the law and get applications in on time when the Council is incapable of following its own procedures?”

Ealing Council have been asked for comment but are yet to respond.