135.Section 42 amends section 6 of the 2005 Act in relation to statements of licensing policy. A statement of licensing policy will generally have effect from 18 months after a local government election until 18 months after the next local government election. For example, the next local government elections are scheduled for May 2017 and May 2021 with the result that, in the usual case, the statements of licensing policy would last November 2018 until November 2022.
136.It is possible for the Licensing Board to decide that a statement of licensing policy should come into effect earlier than it otherwise would, and if they do so, then they must publish the licensing policy statement and publicise the date on which the licensing policy period is to begin.