From an open letter from Feargal Sharkey, Chief Executive, UK Music, to Licensing Minister, Gerry Sutcliffe, March 31st 2010.

"That the current Licensing Act is hurting grassroots live music is beyond doubt.

Over the past 6 years, Government have conducted eight consultations, two Government research projects and two national review processes, all of which reached this conclusion."

Why is it that employees of Licensing Authorities are being allowed to advise their elected members and the public they represent, a position so different to this and why is it that a view based on advice this then is submitted to the DCMS consultation process as being the views of individual councils?

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

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 Local Government lobby grouping have a agenda of their own, which is based on what they think is good for them and not what is best for the public (who are paying for it) and is certainly not based on what is good for live music. Am I the only one that detects more than a hint of incest in the relationship between DCMS and the local government lobby?

The saving that could be obtained by finally ending the whole concept of locally enforced additional entertainment licensing should be an attractive one at this Election, when each of the main political parties are talking public sector pay cuts. Not sure if we would miss bodies like LACORS and the LGA either should their abolition be suggested in order to save us all money.