One of the councillors yesterday asked me why we needed to play in the pub You could have pointed out that it appears to be technically illegal for even one person to play in any other public place.

Mr Locke's suggestion appears to be that a pubic performance does not require that there be any performers at all. This seems to offer some very interesting possibilities. Presumably, if a bunch of people stand around and look at an empty chair, this would count as a public performance for which a Public Entertainment Licence is required.

It occurs to me that Council Meetings - which are sometimes quite entertaining - are in a real sense public entertainments. The public is after all invited and permitted to attend them. I very much doubt if Public Entertainment Licences have been obtained for them. The same applies to Magistrates Courts and Crown Courts. I cannot see how there is any exemption granted for these functions undr law.

I suppose they could seek to claim that these are not "of a like kind" to dancing or music, but that seems very dubious - surely the essential feature which "like" refer to is that some people might find them entertaining. Thus, for example, I unbderstand that entertainments even without music, such as theatrical performances, are in practice expected to have PELs under this legislation.

I feel something should be done about the blatant breaches of the law on the part of people who organise and take part in these civic and legal entertainments. Is there scope for a Citizens Arrest, or a private legal action?

I remember Mudcatter Richard Bridges posted that he had been given permission to post a learned article by someone called Suzanne (something), which might throw light on these issues. Did he ever post it?