Well, I've been to Telford to hear Steve Heap quiz Mr Sharkey - SPECIFICALLY on the PEL Act as it applies to FESTIVALS. Here are a few point which stick in the mind/craw (without prejudice and purely as I understand them) (have I now absolved myself of any/all comeback?):

FS reports that many of the current problems are not the fault of the Act but of Licencing Officers/Departments which either do not understand the implementation guidelines or are trying to tag their own agendas on to the law. In the case of the former, he's having all the gang (Local Authority Licencing Officer), or as many as accept the invitation, to Westminster on, I believe, 28 November to a seminar on the subject. As far as the latter goes, any 'inflation' of the requirements, he says, should be reported to his office and they will pursue the matter.

He also felt that they have followed up a great many complaints to find that they are apocryphal and time-wasting. Urban myth territory. Make of it what you will.

He repeatedly came back to how cheap the licence is. I don't dispute this; I do know that it is the COMPLIANCE requirements which break the bank, particularly for small family businesses.

As it was a Festivals-oriented quiz, there was a lot of focus on Temporary Licences rather than the permanent ones, which is more where my interest lies, but some of the info seemed dubious to me. i.e. He claimed that if an event is held in a space (say a street or square) which is unlicenced (say, by the Council) you will be culpable, not the Council. I suspect that if they do nothing to move you on, they also are culpable but that's picking nits, I suppose.

A number of people were concerned that their free community festivals would disappear as they have no income, therefore no way to pay for licences (and complying with regulations). FS felt that streets/areas should be licenced by the Council and the organizers should negotiate free or nominal-fee use of them. He also suggested that you could take out one Temp Lic. on a street and adjoining specified buildings (i.e. pubs) for the duration of your festival. Something doesn't strike me as just right in that ...

Re: his 28 Nov seminar (and I AM going to check if any Welsh Authorities are going or have been invited), it was pointed out that the Licencing Officers never liase with the Arts/Activities/Community Officer within their own councils, and this latter group are as bummed out about this Act as we all are. "Right hand, I'd like you to meet Left hand."

Let me think - what else? Ummm....

Oh - yes. Closed with a particular mention of the 'email that has been doing the rounds'. Hamish's, I guess. He specifically pointed out that all is now well because the Press Release the DCMS sent out has now been 'corrected' and it wasn't a big deal anyway. And that the monitoring group hasn't upheld any of the other claims. So: that's alright then.

He also seems convinced that if DOCUMENTED proof of the Act being disadvantageous can be presented, the government will have a rethink.

Yeh. Sure.

Anyway, that's what I heard and am passing on to you. Please make allowances that perhaps this wee pea brain of mine didn't understand all the complexities that my Lords and Masters at Live Music Forum and the Labour Government are taking forward on my behalf ...

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