To deal with the concerns raised, the Live Music Forum was set up, chaired by Feargal Sharkey. Its report, issued in July 2007, reported that overall "the Licensing Act has had a neutral effect on the UK’s live music scene", but recommended there should be more flexibility of the application of the Act on smaller premises. However, the introduction of Form 696 by the Metropolitan Police Service as part of the licensing system for live music has been criticised by Sharkey and others for the restrictions imposed on music promoters in London. Implementation of the act Any premises that had an old-scheme licence were able to apply for that licence to be converted; provided there was no material change in the use of the premises, the local authority was effectively bound to agree to the conversion. Licensees had to apply for this by 6 August 2005. By that date, it was reported that most pubs had applied, but many off-licences had not. Although the right to convert current licences expired on 6 August, premises could still apply as "new" premises, without benefiting from a grandfather clause. The new licensing laws came into effect at midnight on 24 November 2005. In a report on the new legislation in November 2006, the Institute of Alcohol Studies reported that one year after implementation "opinions were divided, as expected, leading to the unavoidable polarisation of the debate, increasingly centred upon the misguided notion of ‘24 hour drinking’". On 8 November 2007, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport reported that there were 176,400 licensed premises in England and Wales. Only 5,100 premises have 24 hour licences, most of which (65 per cent) are hotel bars. Only 460 pubs, bars, or nightclubs have 24 hour licences. See also Zoo Bar (Halifax, West Yorkshire) References External links The Licensing Act 2003, as amended from the National Archives. The Licensing Act 2003, as originally enacted from the National Archives. Explanatory notes to the Licensing Act 2003. Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Proposed changes to the Licensing Act 2003 (Home Office) Article on the Licensing Act in Web Journal of Current Legal Issues United Kingdom Acts of Parliament 2003 Alcohol law in the United Kingdom