Lib Dem MP Greg Mulholland, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group and Kate Nicholls, head of communications at the ALMR, are to put their case to the Home Office later today.
They will meet with Home Office minister James Brokenshire, who is responsbile for overseeing the controversial changes, due to be in place by November 2011.
The changes include giving more power to licensing authorities over decisions, allowing councils to charge a late-night levy and increasing licence fees.
Can't think of anything less likely to encourage live music than to introduce an increase in the required licensing permission. Of course, the intention of the Home Office is a knee-jerk reaction to address alcohol concerns (mainly for Daily Mail readers) but as we no longer have an alcohol only licence - any increase will also affect all the non-alcohol related activities that now require Premises Licenses. A point that if the Colaition Govt have noticed, it is a point that they seem determined to try to ignore.
Sadly the increase in fees shows that it is the LGA Group lobby that is really still in control.