Of course councils do not want to ban Morris on public house land or indeed the street. The resulting publicity would not be welcome to them. It would be very welcome for those trying to challenge them.

Councils such as Oxford and Weymouth and Portland have not had the same concern unfortunately, in preventing participatory traditional music sessions taking place without the licensee obtaining a Public Entertainment Licence. Mainly because they may understand a little of the former but wanted to understand nothing about the latter.

It is the very arguments that these councils have used against sessions that mean that Morris on pub ground requires a PEL

In fact there is a case that Morris, with its regular members and well-practised set, far more resembles a band or a conventional pub entertainment than does a session , with its floating personnel and chaotic nature.

I would maintain that neither of them are public entertainment provided by the Licensee and further that preventing this free expression is contrary to Article 10 of The Human Rights Act.

This situation has not been caused by asking permission from any Officer, they have take the action without any invitation. The 'head in the sand' approach will not now work. What I would suggest is to bring the issue to a head.

Where a side is due to dance on pub premises without a PEL, complain to your local Licensing officer and demand that they do their job.

The resulting publicity will be good for the cause if they take action or if they do not.