Yes, indeed that is encouraging. The lobbying and the campaigning has got us somewhere. Without all the fuss there is no way we would have got that kind of stuff in the guidance, and it is going to be very helpful in helping us. It'll no longer be possible for an unhelpful local authority to hide behind phony excuses like "It's not within our power...it's not up to us".

But if they feel like it they will be able to say "Well, it is up to us, and that guidance is nothing more than advice. We are working within the legislation, and our decision is perfectly legal."

The tone is one of seeking to persuade local authorities to act sensibly, rather than of requiring them to do so: "local authorities should consider establishing a policy... This could include for example... village greens, market squares, promenades, community halls, local authority owned art centres and similar public areas. Performers and entertainers would then have no need to obtain a licence or give a temporary event notice themselves to enable them to give a performance in these places. They would still require the permission of the local authority..." and so forth.

There's no suggestion that we have any right as free citizens to make music, unless there is some very good reason for this to be curtailed. It's a culture of "Yes Sir, No Sir, Three Bags Full Sir."

And I predict the result is going to be very patchy.