The following was posted on the Action for Music list.

Thursday, 26 August 2004 1905 hrs.

At around 1630 today, John Priest (JP) the landlord of the free house hotel The Fox in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, has been contacted by West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC), advising him that he is not allowed to host more than two performers of live music at once on his premises without having previously acquired a £200 annual license (precise name of license not known).

The WODC representative who rang JP cited Chipping Norton Folk Club (The Chipping Norton Heritage & Traditional Music Club aka Chipping Norton Folk Club), which meets 2nd Monday of the month in the Fox Hotel in that town. We use a 'lounge bar' area with a closed door. £10 per year membership allows free entry to a sing-around. £1.00 is charged at the door for non-members. If we have a professional guest we may vary those charges and in that case paid up members receive a £1.00 discount off the door fee), and Chipping Norton Jazz Day as being relevant to The Fox.

(They wanted £100 for a 2-plus live performance at the CHARITY Jazz Day on 12th September, but JP has arranged with Mike Howes, the organiser of the Jazz Day to limit performers accordingly).

JP was concerned on Folk Club's behalf: he told WODC that he was not always aware of how many perform simultaneously at Folk Club, or whether they were paid professionals or not; they were not interested in such detail. JP must get back to them by Tuesday coming. He is very happy for a Folk Club representative to speak to WODC direct: Andrea Thomson 01993 861637. (This may be done).

Folk club rep assured JP that Folk Club would make sure he was always watertight.

Our immediate concern is for:

September Folk Club (Singaround).

FOLK ALL AROUND (FAA)*, folk day, Friday 24th September Pre Folk Day Ice-breaker Singaround.
FAA Charity afternoon slot in the Fox 25th September.

Claydon (prob sextet), at October folk club meeting.

Other people's input i.e. joining in with chorus etc.

How to organise a proper response to WODC.

* FAA is in its third year, a day of music and dance on Saturday 25th September. Guests this year are all in C/N Town Hall with a licence but Sarum Morris are going street dancing - could be a problem?

JP has volunteered a 50:50 split on the £200. But we're not even sure that WODC are right - and almost certain that they aren't right in the medium/long term.

Suggestions or free legal representation, please?

Bill Long