The Joint Committee on Human Rights conclusion on the Licensing Bill, in their Report 10 February 2003

21. In the light of the above, we consider that—

the provisions for allowing people to make representations about licensing applications in order to protect their rights under ECHR Article 8 would be likely to offer adequate protection as long as appropriate regulations are made under clause 17(5) of the Bill; but

there is a significant risk that the blanket licensing regime proposed in the Bill would give rise to an incompatibility with people's right to freedom of expression under ECHR Article 10, even in the light of the Government's announcement on 3 February mentioned in paragraph 18, above. We draw this to the attention of each House.

This council's policy under current legislation, must also be compatible now, with Acticle 10. In the light of the above, there must be more than a little doubt that it is....If it not, the council's policy, far from following the letter of the law in fact, unlawful and MUST be changed.