Dr Howells
Some churches fear that disproportionate and costly conditions may be attached to licences. However, under the Bill all licensing authorities would be required to have regard to guidance issued by the Secretary of State. And it is intended that this will make clear that it would be wholly inappropriate to attach disproportionate conditions to licences affecting churches and other charitable institutions.

Gareth
The problem is not so much the legislation itself, but the need to ensure that Local Authorities act reasonably.

I agree but, why then have our civils servants (and Local Government Association) been so determined, and permitted by the Government, to include the above institutions, and many others in the licensing requirements Bill in the first place?

Does each Brownie carol concert have to go before the Secretary of State for dispensation, as Dr Howells stated on Radoi 4?

If these institutions did not appear in the Schedule 1 definitions, it would never be possible for local authorities to EVER apply disproportionate conditions.

That I think is what most people, who have first hand experience of 'silly' Local Authority enforcememt nd conditions were hoping for.

This is new legislation, we could surely reasonably expect it to address the disproportionate conditions, if as Dr Howells implies in his letter it has been and IS now a potential problem?