Member

Transparency is also key when we consider the licensing regime. The amount of time taken to make a decision regarding operating licences will have a major impact on regulated clubs; if the regulator is not efficient in this process, it could compromise the ability of clubs to operate effectively. That certainty for clubs is vital; no club will be able to operate without knowing in a timely manner whether it has been successful in its application for a licence. Delays to this process could prevent clubs entering teams into competitions, hinder investment and, ultimately, harm the club’s financial sustainability, cutting against the core purposes of the Bill. It is more than reasonable that the period taken to grant licences should form part of this report and be published annually so that Parliament can hold the regulator to account in this area and ensure that it is performing its functions efficiently.