The Ministry of Fun (DCMS) have published the new form of TEN (Temporary Event Notice). This is at http://www.culture.gov.uk/alcohol_and_entertainment/licensing_appforms.htm#tens%20forms. Also obtainable from www.culture.gov.uk - alcohol and licensing - forms.

This wretched notice is needed for a festival or charity event etc for anywhere that does not have a Premises Licence for Regulated Entertainment. It is needed even for a charity event such as a garden party if live music is played and it is a fund raising event. It costs £21 and needs 2 copies giving 10 days notice to the local authority. Only the police can object.

It is supposedly a "light touch" to quote DCMS! What a laugh. The form with instructions runs to 10 pages and needs the applicants date and place of birth and national insurance no. among many other details. It is a typical officialdom civil service form that the Govenment is adicted to. Unless you have a personal licence, only 5 can be applied for in one year by an individual and only 12 at the same place (premises means anywhere including a fild under the new act). The audience is limited to 499 so buy a clicker to count them in. No wonder the Times on Saturday signalled the death of live music.   Music can be traced to the beginings of time but New Labour will do its best to end it!