Councillors in charge of licensing will be among the busiest in Britain from early next summer.

Once the Licensing Act comes into force, Brighton and Hove City Council will be responsible for hundreds of licensed premises.

It is likely almost all venues will make applications at some stage and some are likely to apply for permission to open 24 hours a day.

To deal with the influx, licensing committee members may have to meet almost daily.

Labour councillor Don Turner chairs the committee, which at present deals with a limited range of licences, such as those for sex shops and public entertainment.

He said there could be as many as 1,200 applications and if any of them were opposed, councillors would have to meet to decide the issue.

The council has already prepared a draft statement of licensing policy, which is going out for public consultation.

The Government says councils will always have to bear in mind public safety, crime prevention, protecting youngsters and preventing public nuisance.

Brighton and Hove is already one of the pleasure capitals of Britain, with eight million visitors a year.

It also has more than 300,000 people staying in the city, with thousands of students and many language schools.

Thirty five per cent of the population is aged between 20 and 39, far higher than the national average and the prime age for going to pubs and clubs.

In the last three years, the number of hotels has risen by 22 per cent, restaurants by 16 per cent and bars by 12 per cent.

The draft says: "A burgeoning music industry, a vibrant pub and club culture and being a place to party ensures the city is on the leisure map.

"Brighton and Hove is also a major, internationally recognised leisure destination for the gay community.

"The city's proximity to London means it is able to attract high-spend, short- stay visitors who are drawn to the pub and club scene."

Most pubs and clubs are concentrated between the two piers and up to North Street and the railway station.

There can be problems in areas where there is a concentration of clubs and pubs, such as West Street. Forty per cent of violent crime is alcohol-related.

Much of the crime occurs in areas like this and part of the problem is the venues tend to close at the same time. This is one area to be looked at.

The experience of councillors of pubs and clubs through the existing licensing and planning functions means there is already a policy which has worked fairly well.

Late-opening pubs and clubs have been concentrated on the seafront, well away from people's homes.

Coun Turner said a balance would have to be struck between the need for people to enjoy themselves and the right of people in the city centre to have some late-night peace and quiet.

He said: "I think the Act is a good thing, apart from one or two blips. It will give greater flexibility and greater control."

Coun Turner stressed the committee was not in any way party political and councillors were receiving training on licensing regulations.

While some decisions will be made by officers, as they are in planning, all the major and contentious decisions will be made by the committee.

Major themes in licensing policy are already emerging.

One will be to ensure there is a good mix of licensed premises such as restaurants, clubs and bars in the busiest areas.

Another will be to spread large venues so hundreds of people do not leave at the same time.

There is likely to be more flexibility over closing hours, which may help to prevent binge drinking among youngsters.

Big factors in deciding whether licences should be granted will include the character of people running the venues and their effective management.

In some cases, conditions imposed by councillors could include providing CCTV, using shatterproof glasses and providing plenty of licensed doormen.

Licensees will be ordered to make sure youngsters have to provide proper proof they are over 18 .

Police and the council will have the power to close pubs and clubs if they cause a serious nuisances.

There is still a lot of work to be done by council officials and the police in the six months or so before the Act comes into effect.

But then the real work will begin.

As Don Turner said ruefully: "We are going to be busy."