Clear evidence that DCMS 'statistics' have unduly influenced Licensing Authority responses to the licensing consultation. Again this is in open defiance of UK Statistics Authority's recommendations. Waveney Council claim that 'there is no statistical... evidence that live music is being deterred'.See Morehttp://www.waveney.gov.uk/agendas/2010/march/licensing/item4appc.doc

„h We are very strongly of the view, from our experience in this district that live music is NOT being deterred by the provisions of the Act, our local policy or decisions made by members or delegated officers. The majority of licensed premises in our area had a live music permission of some description, and the Temporary Event Notice (TEN) system is well used for authorising live music activities (many TENS are also seeking alcohol and other regulated entertainment permissions). A significant number of pubs and other venues in our area have successfully varied their licences, to diversify, since the Act came in and it seems that live music activities are actually thriving. We are also seeing a noticeable increase in large outdoor live music events, taking advantage of more flexible licensing arrangements, for example the latitude festival. The feedback we get is that it is now generally much easier to apply for and gain music permissions than it was under the previous Public Entertainment Licence (PEL) system.

The exemption proposal seems to be a further unnecessary amendment to the Act, and surprising in view of:

(a) the widely expressed Police, Local Authority (LA), Environmental Health and Licensing Practitioner concerns submitted in respect of the similar exemption proposals in 2008;
and
(b) there is no statistical evidence that live music is being deterred. The unspecified ¡¥anecdotal¡¦ instances of deterrence referred to in the consultation paper are in our view likely to be exceptional and unusual occurrences rather than normal practice.