UK Govt. Prop. to Scrap Ent. Licensing

Subject: UK Govt. Prop. to Scrap Ent. Licensing
From: Tootler
Date: 23 May 11 - 04:09 PM

This landed in my inbox today. It looks like good news for folk clubs, sessions and other small events.

The government will launch a public consultation next month to scrap entertainment licensing altogether, except for very large scale events and adult entertainment such as pole dancing.

Under the proposals, trailed in the Sunday Times of 15 May under the headline 'No more licences to party', an alcohol licence would be sufficient to allow live music, without an additional authorisation. Licensing minister John Penrose said:

'Live entertainment is a good thing. It improves our cultural life, provides enormous pleasure for millions and should be encouraged, not stifled by the clammy hand of bureaucracy. The current regime makes it harder for new talent to get a chance to perform in front of audiences, imposes a deadweight cost on small businesses and voluntary bodies who want to put on shows, and in a small but significant way, reduces our free speech. As long as we have proper controls on alcohol, and spectator safety and noise nuisance are controlled, the rest is mostly bonkers red tape, and it's time we consigned it to the bin.'

Radical deregulation of the entertainment licensing regime was first hinted at by Penrose during Parliamentary debate nearly a year ago (21 June 2010). In a letter to Tessa Jowell dated 21 March this year, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt wrote:

'As you may well have heard, Baroness Rawlings announced during the recent debate on the Live Music Bill that it is the Government`s intention to be supportive of the Bill. We will also be looking into whether we can go further than the Bill by deregulating entertainment from the Licensing Act 2003, and John Penrose hopes to be in a position to say more in the coming weeks.'

Set against the sweeping deregulation now being proposed, the small gig exemptions in Lord Clement-Jones' bill look modest. But a DCMS source confirmed last week that government support for the bill would continue. A date for its Committee stage debate, where the government is expected to put forward some amendments, has yet to be fixed.

One likely reason for this continued support is that while the bill's exemptions could be implemented within a year, the bolder solution could take much longer.

Curiously, DCMS itself did not issue a press release. However, a more detailed account of the deregulation proposals was published by Lib Dem MP Don Foster on his Bath constituency website:
http://bathlibdems.org.uk/en/article/2011/487967/foster-hails-changes-to-live-event-licensing

Subject: RE: UK Govt. Prop. to Scrap Ent. Licensing
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 23 May 11 - 04:14 PM

Saw that a few wekks ago. Must be good. we have a license, so no problem for us

Subject: RE: UK Govt. Prop. to Scrap Ent. Licensing
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 23 May 11 - 04:38 PM

Sounds like good news and common sense at last.

we have a license, so no problem for us

The two sessions I'm most likely to try to get to are currently homeless...

Subject: RE: UK Govt. Prop. to Scrap Ent. Licensing
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 23 May 11 - 04:40 PM

One likely reason for this continued support is that while the bill's exemptions could be implemented within a year, the bolder solution could take much longer.

I can't see how that computes. "The bolder solution" would have been much simpler I'd have thought.

Still, who can expect rational behaviour from any government?

Subject: RE: UK Govt. Prop. to Scrap Ent. Licensing
From: DMcG
Date: 23 May 11 - 06:09 PM

Very early days, but certainly encouraging

Subject: RE: UK Govt. Prop. to Scrap Ent. Licensing
From: ripov
Date: 24 May 11 - 02:41 PM

"an alcohol licence would be sufficient to allow live music, without an additional authorisation"; surely the aim is to have live music without any sort of license. How many schools have an alcohol license?

Subject: RE: UK Govt. Prop. to Scrap Ent. Licensing
From: Leadfingers
Date: 24 May 11 - 06:03 PM

Enough people have been saying for long enough that if it is reasonable for a bar to be full of lager swilling football fans watching a wide screen Television , why not a few folkies playing acoustic music !!

I personally will NOT be holding my breath in the hope that the Government do something sensible !

Subject: RE: UK Govt. Prop. to Scrap Ent. Licensing
From: Tootler
Date: 24 May 11 - 06:08 PM

@McG of H:

The "bolder" version is likely to attract stronger opposition so will take more time to get through.

@ripov

I think the message has not been very well worded in places. If you read the version on Don Foster's website (linked), it does say that there will be no need for a license at all where the sale of alcohol is not involved.

Subject: RE: UK Govt. Prop. to Scrap Ent. Licensing
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 25 May 11 - 03:25 AM

It appears that the Mudcat post eater is at it again.

I posted inter alia to point out that a great deal of credit must go to Hamish Birchall who kept the pressure constantly on - long after the MU had rolled over and asked to have its tummy tickled.

Any MU members here really ought to be sticking it to the MU about this.