Council Bans Morris Dancing

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: The Shambles
Date: 06 Aug 01 - 10:07 AM

Please do not post any more on this thread as it is a little big now for some browsers to load.

The saga continues however on Council Bans Morris Part 2

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: The Shambles
Date: 05 Aug 01 - 11:36 AM

I nearly missed this editorial in our local paper, the Dorset Evening Echo 04/08/01.

Bitter blow for folk.

LIVE music in pubs is in the news with the report that the landlord of the Cove Inn on Portland fears observing the letter of the law when it comes to entertainment licenses threatens to kill off traditional pursuits (see report on page 7).

Brian Flynn says folk music and morris dancing could both be caught in the licence trap.

And Roger Gall, who runs a folk club at the inn, says ethnic music is a grey area and the council could ignore it if it wished…we believe it is something that is overdue for review.

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 05 Aug 01 - 07:57 AM

Thank you Sahmbles.

I ahve not been able to get a copy online of all the relevant sections of the 1982 Act.

I'm still trying to get one elsewhere.

One avenue of attack is on the wording of the section. I am not optimistic.

May I respecfully suggest that Mr Gall writes to the solicitor and asks for copies of the case law cited?

Another avenue of attack is on those cases but it might be necessary to litigate.

ANother angle might be on the duty to apply the law: see how diligently (if at all) the councils are performing their duties to enforce and protect rights of way. I'll bet my bottom dollar that about 50% or more of local byways or bridelways or RUPPS are obstructed, yet there will be at best feeble efforts to clear them and no effort to make landownres keep them open to ALL the classses of traffic entitled to use them.

I repeat that if a serious attempt is to be made to argue the human rights angle you need a serious human rights lawyer. See if Gerffrey RObertson is interested pro bono.

You also need to be chasing the civil servants responsible for the reform of licensing law.

Where are the rest of the campaigners? I think CPRE is a good idea. Try other local historical and so on societies. Tell EFDSS to keep keepong us all up to date.

What happened to the cultiral angle (you know, the stuff about keeping local culture on the go).

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: vindelis
Date: 04 Aug 01 - 06:51 PM

Having seen how slowly the wheels of local government seem to turn, when dealing with these situations; why don't councils have a sliding scale of charges for PELs - throughout the year? Secondly, is there a cut-off date (prior to the 30th June) for the issue of new licences? If not I pity the poor chap who gets one issued on the 29th! Mind you considering how hard up some councils are these days it wouldn't surprise me if it did happen.

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: Noreen
Date: 04 Aug 01 - 06:33 PM

Duly read, Mr Gall, sir...

Having witnessed a folk music session involving at least four musicians at the premises Licensing Officers were satisfied that public entertainment was being provided...

Well, that's nice to know! :0)

Noreen

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: The Shambles
Date: 04 Aug 01 - 03:42 PM

The full report that WPBC presented to the members on 05/06/01 can be found on Trever Gilson's Site HERE

Please somebody read it, as I typed the whole bloody thing out?

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: The Shambles
Date: 04 Aug 01 - 03:01 PM

Pints of pluck......

Eventually after 8 months, this story appeared in the Dorset Evening Echo 04/0801. C/W nice colour photo of landlord and pub……………No Morris persons, naked or otherwise...... Story by Tim Champion.

Landlord fears system threatens future of traditional music.

CALL FOR SCRAPPING OF LICENSING LAWS.

Pub landlord Brian Flynn fears strict licensing laws could threaten the future of traditional music.

Mr Flynn, who runs the Cove House Inn on Portland, is calling for the current system to be scrapped. He admits he has already broken the terms of his entertainment licence three times this year.

As the law stands, landlords must have a licence if more than two people perform on the premises. Officers from Weymouth and Portland Borough Council visited the Cove House Inn after a folk night started last year.

Mr Flynn later acquired a licence covering him for music inside the pub and for an annual outdoor charity bash in August.

He said "one of the conditions of the licence is that I can hold one outdoor charity event every year, as long as it finishes by 6pm. But I have already hosted three evening Morris dancing events outside the pub this summer".

" I can't see what harm it is doing. I don't think we should need a licence a licence for Morris dancing or folk musicians. It is part of out English cultural heritage and it is being stamped on by these strict licensing laws".

He added "The Thursday night event is a jam session for local musicians--we are just providing a place for them to play. The big pubs won't do this because they don't see it as making commercial sense".

Mr Flynn says he is also concerned that he paid £180 to the borough council for a licence that only lasted six weeks, from May 16 to June 30, rather than a year. He said "I think the council has made a mistake".

Folk musician Roger Gall, who started the folk night, said "The event is not a commercial one and none of the musicians are paid".

"Folk music is a grey area under the current laws and I believe there is enough scope for Weymouth and Portland Borough Council to use its discretion".

Borough council licensing manager Sue Allen, said "It is not for me to put individual interpretations on the law—I have to treat everybody equally. If Mr Flynn or Mr Gall want a change in the law, they must lobby for it nationally".

She added; "All licences expire on June 30 and Mr Flynn has already had the benefit of a licence for several months without actually having one".

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: Bonzo
Date: 04 Aug 01 - 01:47 PM

Don't you have to be drunk to play the banjo? or does it just take lots of pluck

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: The Shambles
Date: 04 Aug 01 - 02:39 AM

CRE.

I don't think that it has been suggested before. Do you think it is worth a try?

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: Frogge
Date: 03 Aug 01 - 11:23 PM

I appologise if this point has been made before.

Have you contacted the CRE. It is obvious that the rituals of a minority culture are being threatened

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: Noreen
Date: 03 Aug 01 - 08:01 PM

Oh, Shambles, that quote is wonderful... can you get it blown up and framed?
Include it in your CV?
Busk behind it in the middle of town??

Can we all have one?

Noreen
grinningquietlytomyself

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: vindelis
Date: 03 Aug 01 - 07:22 PM

Puts a whole new slant on 'Hit me with your rhythm stick' doesn;t it?

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: The Shambles
Date: 03 Aug 01 - 07:05 PM

Extract from the WPBC report presented to and endorsed by the members on 05/06/01.

"By applying the relevant licensing legislation the council has imposed conditions and restrictions on Mr Gall's rights which are legal, neccessary and proportionate in the interests of public safety, control of nuisance and the prevention of crime and disorder".

A drunk in charge of a banjo can do a lot of damage I know but?????

Maybe they had seen that old Ealing comedy, where criminals meet to plan their next crime, carrying into the room instrument cases?

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: The Shambles
Date: 03 Aug 01 - 06:38 PM

Is there any chance that our authority has now read and taken notice of the following?

The following is a Q and A, from An introduction The Human Rights Act.

DOES THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT AFFECT THE WAY GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC BODIES BEHAVE?

Yes. The Human Rights Act says that all public authorities must pay proper attention to your rights when they are making decisions that affect you. Public authorities include Government Ministers, civil servants, your local authority or health authority, and also agencies like the police, the courts and private companies when carrying out public functions.

That's nothing new - respecting rights and balancing rights and responsibilities has always been an important part of public service in this country. But the Human Rights Act makes sure that those in authority over you will have to check that they do not ride roughshod over your rights, even when they believe they are doing so for a good reason. They will have to be careful about the balance they are striking and think hard about how they can cause the least possible harm to individuals.

No..........I don't suppose so.

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: The Shambles
Date: 03 Aug 01 - 09:40 AM

How about the 'Full Morris' then, You could keep your shoes on too?

Latest is that the Licensing Manager called in to meet with the Licensse, face to face for the very first time, in all the eight months or longer, that this has been going on. She seemed to the Licensee to be most helpful. What a pity this meeting could not have happened before? Like on the evening she visited the session and recorded "at least four performers" and did not speak to anyone? As I was present that night, she does know me to look at but after all this time I would know her if I tripped over her.

Maybe I did????

Or even worse???????

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: vindelis
Date: 02 Aug 01 - 02:24 PM

Shambles, the 'poor soul' as you so kindly put it is Angie Leggett, the wife of Lennie, the other musician in the picture. The 'artistic' - his words not mine - photographer, wanted a shot of a foot in the picture. Angie was deemed to have the cleanest shoes. I'm the dancer facing Bobby's Girl.

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: The Shambles
Date: 02 Aug 01 - 11:37 AM

I have found there to be lots of those in our council...

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: GUEST,Captain Swing
Date: 02 Aug 01 - 10:28 AM

Surely classifying morris dancing as a public entertainment is an oxymoron?

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: The Shambles
Date: 02 Aug 01 - 02:46 AM

By the way, who was the poor soul in the very foreground of the photo, represented by only her bells?

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: bobby's girl
Date: 01 Aug 01 - 07:38 PM

I've just got back from Folkworks in Durham (via my mother-in-law's which accounts for the delay) so I've only just seen the article and photograph, as they didn't print it in the northern edition of the Guardian. I like the piccy, as I'm the one right in the centre! Apart from that, I hope it manages to cause at least a ripple of concern somewhere, as the present situation is ridiculous, and continues to deteriorate!

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: Stewart
Date: 01 Aug 01 - 07:05 PM

I don't know what it is about Morris Dancing, but it also seems to illegal on this side of the pond (Seattle, Washington). The following article describes the incident.

S. in Seattle

DANCE NOTES - Dancing May Be Arresting
by Karen Shaw (from the Seattle Folklore Society Flyer, August, 2001)

What happens when you combine a beautiful summer solstice night, four groups of Morris dancers, a few musicians, and an Army Corps of Engineers person who may have far too little to do? I was excited as my husband and I drove to the Magnolia side of the Ballard Locks by the fish ladder, where we were to meet my other team members of North by Northwest Morris dancers. At 7:30pm, our group, Misty City, Mossy Backs, and Sound and Fury were all meeting to dance in the summer solstice. Our musicians were ready to play; we were ready to dance. There were merely a handful of people on that side of the locks as my group started its first dance. We are a group of eight, and the largest of the teams. By the end of the dance we had an audience of about 15 folks. They applauded as we finished and I felt like a real street performer - the way Morris dancing is meant to be! It was pretty cool, I admit.

As the next group started to dance, a few more people stopped to watch. The music is simple and lilting, the dances are aerobic, and the costumes are bright and colourful. Again, the dancers were applauded as they finished and some folks asked us questions about who we were and why we danced. It was a perfect evening, friendly, peaceful, and with good energy flowing between the dancers and the watchers.

All of a sudden. across the bridge strode a man in a green uniform. He did not look friendly. He was not smiling or tapping his toe in time to the music. As I watched in amazement, he told that since we had forgotten to get a permit, we had to leave- - or else. I'm not sure what the "or else" was; I think we were to be arrested if we didn't immediately cease and desist. We were told that we were on military property, not city property, and they had regulations. And regulations must be followed at all times. Many folks told him that they were enjoying watching us, but to no avail. We pointed out that we were blocking nothing, and that we were dancing for the joy of it. It had no political ramifications and we weren't peddling a thing. Our entreaties fell on deaf ears. We had to go. We asked if he could call his supervisor and get permission; he refused to try.

So we left. We went up to the street level and continued our dances on the public sidewalk, where no one told us to leave. A few folks followed us there and a few cars stopped on the street to watch. We still had fun and we turned it all into a joke. But I can't imagine what purpose was served by making us leave don't understand how we endangered anything by bringing folks a little music and dance on a warm solstice evening. Perhaps some of you might have an answer.

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: The Shambles
Date: 01 Aug 01 - 06:23 PM

This is a link to Trevor Gilson's site where you can find many record of events and documents.

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: The Shambles
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 07:13 PM

Still no takers for 'The Full Morris'?

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 29 Jul 01 - 07:13 PM

Yes, I could not find it in the Gruauniad either. THey are supposed to be all for music and Kultcher'n'stuff.

Yeah, right, if you can play it electric in Islington or it's opera.

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: running.hare
Date: 29 Jul 01 - 05:40 PM

The was a femail morris side @ the milton abbas street fair yesterday, but i'm afraid they were all fully clothed. & a few of them skipped a few inches off the road & on to the pub forecourt! shocking it was!!! ;¬)

(& I apologise 4 my speeling)

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: The Shambles
Date: 29 Jul 01 - 12:42 PM

I will refer that question to the ladies of Royal Manor Morris...

On their 'boaters'?

"You can leave your hat on"

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: Noreen
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 07:24 PM

Thank for keeping us up to date, Shambles.

Where would naked morris dancers wear their bells? :0)

Noreen

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: Gareth
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 07:08 PM

RTW Shambles the edition available in Caerphilly did not picture the sheep. I can only presume it was out of respect. They could have been someone's girl friend !

Gareth

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: The Shambles
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 06:47 PM

Yes it was the bloody sheep.

Interesting you mention the local paper as a gentleman from the local rag called today. Saturday at 11.30am!

This after ignoring the story for months......

Anyone offering to turn up for the naked ladies Morris story?

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 02:39 PM

Well in my edition page 6 has a main srory abouy Teenagers shun safe sex plea, a row about a TV programme (Channel 4 faces anger after paedophilia stunt), one about a Nazi suspect, , and a story about sheep being culled in Wales, with a large picture of some worried looking sheep.

Now I wonder which of those pushed you out in my edition, which would be later than yours, since I live quite near London. Probably the sheep, since that story has the picture...

Still, it's a nice story, and should mean tht the local paper will be pretty certain to run something - that's the way locals work.

But you really need The Sun, and that'll require naked Ladies Morris I'm afraid. Borderline Morris.

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: The Shambles
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 02:24 PM

I wish I had seen the site before I typed it all out.

The article is on page 6 of the main paper.

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: Bonzo
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 01:25 PM

I think that should be five mudcatters. I'm the musician on the left.

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 11:41 AM

Here is a link to the story on the Guardian website - Councils make song and dance over pub law

But I couldn't find it in the paper. Maybe it got squeezed out in the edition I got. So I didn't get to see Shamble's foot.

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 10:19 AM

"We are just trying to enforce the law as it stands" is of course crap.

There is no obligation to enforce every law, otherwise they'd be knee deep in cases about sumptuary laws and mince pies and all that stuff that's never been taken off the statute book. And how often do they prosecute people for dropping a sweet paper, or spitting out a bit of chewing gum?

They have a duty to use their common and prioritise. Which means in the jargon of the day, decriminalising Morris dancing and sessions in pubs, until the higher authorities can get round to recognising that these kind of things are and always have been, inalienable human rights.

Probably nobody needs convincing here - the value of rehearsing these kinds of arguments is so that we have them handy when we are talking to someone who actually needs convincing.

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: The Shambles
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 07:48 AM

"We are not the villains of the piece, we are just trying to enforce the law as it stands", Mike Brock, a licensing officer at Weymouth and Portland council, said. "Reform would certainly make our lives easier".

Well of course making the officer's live easier is what it is all about, is it not?

I see they wheeled out the lowest possible ranking officer to face the bullets. According to the date of the visits that WPBC provided, this poor chap never actually saw the session taking place, but was only sent to deliver any bad news.

In the photograph you will see at least 4 Mudcatters. Well if you look very hard you may just see my foot and a bit of my banjo case and the lower torso of our 'host'.

Nice shots of the dancers though.

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: The Shambles
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 07:36 AM

My hopes were well placed, this time?

From The Guardian Saturday July 28th

Maev Kennedy Arts and Heritage Correspondent.

On a glorious summer's evening the law of the land was flagrantly being broken at Cove House Inn, on the edge of Chesil beach in Dorset.
The Royal Manor morris dancers had turned up, with several musicians, and were entertaining or tormenting the crowd of outdoor drinkers as they have for 20 years.
At this point landlord Brian Flynn should have ordered everyone inside his tiny bar, which can hold, provided everyone keeps their elbows by their sides, 95 people.
Instead he and his staff continued to ferry drinks outside, and break the law. "What am I to do? Everyone is having a lovely time--am I to break up the session, force them inside, and really risk a public order problem? Who are we disturbing? In front of us there's nobody except fishes. I won't do it, and I've told the council I won't," Mr Flynn said.

The cove is enmeshed in the anomalies of the public entertainment licence, loosely known as the "two in a bar rule", a law dating back to 1964 which says that the landlord must obtain a licence if more than two people perform on his premises. There are reports from all over the country of increasingly rigid enforcement by local authorities. The definition has been stretched to include members of the audience joining in the chorus of songs, or even clapping in time, or two performers with a taped backing track.

Licenses can cost up to £4,000, a severe overhead for small pubs particularly if the licensing authority insists on expensive building alterations as a condition. Potential penalties are loss of licence, up to six months prison, or fines up to £20,000.

The government has promised reform as part of a bill which would also have liberalised pub hours, but which fell with the last parliament and was not included in the Queen's speech for the current session. The system is being fought by a coalition including the Folk Society, the Musicians union, saxophone playing Tory Lord Colwyn, head of the parliamentary jazz committee, Liberal Democrat Lord Redesdale, and the Bishop of Oxford.

We are not the villains of the piece, we are just trying to enforce the law as it stands", Mike Brock, a licensing officer at Weymouth and Portland council, said. "Reform would certainly make our lives easier".

Back at the Cove there is another peculiarity of the law which would keep the Royal Manor morris perfectly legal: if they moved a few feet further away from the pub, they would then risk an eight foot drop over the sea wall onto the concrete and shingle below.

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: The Shambles
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 02:07 PM

I have long ago given up hope of predicting what a journalist might say or indeed if anything will appear at all. Maev Kennedy is the Arts and Heritage correspondent of the Guardian and my current hopes are with her.

If the article does appear, I will post it here.

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: rea
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 11:16 AM

do you know what the spin of the articleis going to be? will it be on the web?

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: The Shambles
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 06:37 AM

Photographers were present at The Cove last evening, taking shots (not with guns) of Royal Manor Morris, for an article to appear in this Saturday's Guardian.

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 26 Jul 01 - 01:44 PM

For info on the day of action I tried the EFDSS Root Source website - but their link to their page about it didn't work for me. But I suppose that's the place to look anyway.

As for two-in-a-bar, we've been over this a few times, and it's still clear as mud.

The two-in-a-bar is an exemption of activities that would otherwise require a Public Entertainment Licence. That could mean musicians, comedians, jugglers. So long as no more than two are performing in an evening.

The question which has never been resolved in a court is whether the kind of thing we are talking about, people playing and singing, telling stories etc primarily for their own mutual social enjoyment fall within the category of activities that require a Public Entyertanment, whether in a pub, a coffee-bar or a barbershop.

That is to say, is the current law intended to prohibit that kind of thing - and if it is intended to do so, is that in itself consistant with over-riding human rights legislation?

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 26 Jul 01 - 10:42 AM

Perhaps it should be made clearer that abolishing the "two in the bar" rule is the abolition of an exemption. Once (if ever) the exemption is gone, then until the law relating to PELs is re-stated a PEL will be needed for even one or two public entertainers. Better half a loaf than no bread.

What would be fairly easy would be a new Statutory Instrument to add some more thoughtful exemption, but drafting it is going to be tricky. I live next door to a pub and across the road from another and if I got a chance to shut down their karaoke, one man bands (with PA rig) discos (outside in summer from noon till midnight on a Sunday), juke boxes, and outside barbecues, not to mention them serving leery kids who, when I pass, even though I have two large dogs with me, ask at a shout "Hey, want to by some fucking pills grandpa?", would I not do so?

A specific (and accurate, no euro-waffle about "proportional" here please, we're British) exemption for fairly peaceful middle class activity (or middle class type even when practised by the upper or lower classes) that covers both inside and outside activities is not easy to explain much less draw in detail. But it is important that it be clear if it is to be presented as preferable to any lack of clarity in the existing law as redoubled by any rational argument about "public entertainment provided by the Licensee" or Human Rights.

By the way what happened to the day of action?

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: clansfolk
Date: 26 Jul 01 - 09:17 AM

Gareths comments re Watneys reminded me of the verse we used to sing in the 60's (Come Landlord fill the Flowing Bowl) - ahh good old Cartford Arms.

What's the beer we all love best?
Draughtneys What Red Barrel
A special beer that beats the rest
Draughtneys What Red Barrel

Drink Red Barrel, near or far
In bucket or p-ss pot or any old jar
It Tastes Bl--dy awful where ever you are
Drink Draughtneys What Red Barrel

Red Barrel, Red Barrel,
Red Barrel men say the same again
cr-p!

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: The Shambles
Date: 26 Jul 01 - 08:13 AM

STOP PRESS

I have just been informed that we are now illegal againd.

The licence was issued on 16/05/01 and valid until 30/06/01. It has expired after six weeks.

Our officers, in their haste stated "to the 30th June next".

This is not a wind-up..............

The whole long process will have to start again.

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: The Shambles
Date: 26 Jul 01 - 02:26 AM

My problem with the local press is that they do not wish to upset the local council.

I had a keen young reporter set to do the story but the news editor would not run the story.

I have sent them stuff since but no joy apart from the 'gig' guide informing about the London 'day of action'.

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 25 Jul 01 - 07:14 PM

Getting any local press coverage on this Shambles? If so, there'd probably be a link you could post about it.

I still think, that openly breaking the law, in a way that won't endanger the publican's licence, is the best way to help towards it being changed.

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: Gareth
Date: 25 Jul 01 - 07:08 PM

Apart from my previous comment regarding the quality (read stupidity) of some local Councillors in the U.K, you must remember that when it comes to periferal activities by the employees of local authorities the phrase "Justify your activities" comes to mind.

If an authority is given powers, it will appoint staff to deal with those powers. To justify their existance ? well find and licence - raise revenue ? - fill in time sheets.

No I'am afraid burocrats need to justify their own existance. I suspect this is not confined to the U.K.

What a pity it is that Music has to suffer !

Sorry if I seem cynical - I spent 60 minutes in a meeting tonight (wearing my Party hat) briefing a group of SWales Councillors in our little valley on the inplications of certain proposed regulations eminating from Westminster.

I could have enjoyed my self more, drinking luke -warm Watneys.(*) My God some of them were thick !!!!!!!

(*) Watneys - non CAMRA members, or those who have not visited the U.K. a now (thank God) defunct National Brewery whose products where not of the highest standards - in fact give me the choice ofWatneys Red or Budweisser, well it's the Bud.

Gareth

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: M.Ted
Date: 25 Jul 01 - 07:03 PM

It looks like things are moving forward--it will be interesting to see how that "working co-operatively for a shared goal" goes--the bureaucrats here protect their little spheres of authority very jealously--I hope you will be lobbying your Local Cultural Strategy team aggressively--

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: GUEST,The Shambles
Date: 25 Jul 01 - 06:40 PM

Oops!

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jul 01 - 06:34 PM

The following is more on Council's other responsibilities. Ones that may or should interfere with this tunnel vision enforcement.

Hamish Birchall sent the following to me.

"Also last December the DCMS published a useful document called 'Creating Opportunities'.

It calls on local authorities to prepare a 'Local Cultural Strategy' by 2002. The purpose is to put 'culture centre stage in the business of local authorities', and is all about utilising local talent and initiative to widen everyone's participation and access to all forms of 'cultural life' - which includes live music of course.

The means by which councils prepare this 'strategy' is first and foremost consultation. This is emphasised throughout the document. Local authorities must also start to work 'holistically', which means that the arts departments must start talking to the licensing department, and working co-operatively for a shared goal. At the moment the two departments are often working with contradictory agendas: one seeks to promote local live music, the other shuts it down.

You should find out who is heading up the Local Cultural Strategy team in your council, and get a copy of 'Creating Opportunities' as soon as possible from Terry Connell at the DCMS on 0207-211 6370.

Note that on p35 there is a specific mention that more pubs/small venues should be developed, and licensing arrangements reviewed."

Have you been consulted?

Subject: RE: Council Bans Morris Dancing
From: The Shambles
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 12:25 PM

Yes that is probably true but the end is not yet in sight. The new legislation however is huge and will take forever even if it is actually started, with no certainty that it too will not be 'ammended' out of all usefulness.

What do you do in the meantime If you want to organise something that you know that under the present legislation is illegal?

Back in the days of ny ignorance, I advertised an event. Would I do that now? Now that I know oficials will act against it? Probably not. I would not organise one if I could not advertise it freely, so we have yet another event prevented. This will be magnified all across the country.

Most of us now know the legal situation and still now under the present legislation, have to find a sensible way to deal with it.