In my experience (10 years total working for Local Government, father had nearly the same) they will be as unreasonable as they want to be. The council named above is the same council that made a man redundant 2 weeks before his 60th birthday, so they could save the long service increment and thus increased redundancy pay they'd have to award him if he'd been employed by them for 10 years.

They are not spoilsports, they are genuinely trying to stop people being hurt in public buildings - because we as a community are becoming more liable to sue, and they want to cover their own asses. If they say 'they were there against regulations' then they are untouchable.

The fact that the guidelines are no guide at all, the interpretation of intent is at the discretion of people who probably have no idea of the actual circumstance, and 'reasonable' is at the interpretation of the same people, means that they have Auchweis to stop what ever they wish. Do not for one moment think that they will stop everything equally. If it is making money for the council you can bet your last Poll Tax bill that they will not stop it.

LTS