I have stayed out of the discussion until now but following from the last comment:
Would it not be more in our interests to compile lists of pubs WITH entertainment licences and give them our support by offering sessions. Now that's positive!!

We do not have to compile any lists. The council will already have the information - all we have to do is ask for it. The Act also requires our councils to promote music and dance - not to prevent it.

On a practical level - pubs with licensing permission can legally hold sessions and many now do. These venues would also be promoting conventional and paid live music. Even if the pub was willing - it may not be possible to find a night that was free that would not also be denying musicians valuable opportunities for paid employment.

Again is it not more practical sense - if the aim is for a long-running session in a reliable and suitable venue - to establish sessions in the generally smaller pubs which for many reasons have not applied for permission to provide conventional entertainment but may be perfectly happy to host a session if asked.

On a less pracital level and more one of principle. If sessions are now in fact legal without licensing permission - surely it would be silly and wasteful not to take a course that would at least establish the facts?

Do you accept that this law means that if you obtain a licensee's permission that whether you should be allowed to play or sing in their pub for your own pleasure should be a matter for a council licensing officer to decide?

Do you accept that this law means that if you obtain a licensee's permission that whether you should be allowed to play pool or darts etc in their pub for your own pleasure should be a matter for a council licensing officer to decide?

The law either allows social indoor sports or similar social indoor music making without entertainment licenses or it does not. As both are included in Scedule 1 - the words of the same legislation cannot mean that one can and one cannot. If either of them are for the purpose of entertaining an audience - they are licensable. If either of them are NOT for the purpose of entertaining an audience - They are not licensable and of no concern to any council's licensing officers.