Licensing officers predict trouble over live music reforms

Council licensing officers fear proposals to amend the 2003 Licensing Act and relax the rules on live music will lead to an increase in complaints about noise and nuisance, a survey has revealed.

The concern arises from the recent Government announcement proposing an amendment to section 182 of the 2003 Act. The change would allow bars, clubs and cafes to put on live music for fewer than 100 people without the need for a licence.

The proposal would mean businesses could add live music to existing licences very simply. The new ‘minor variations’ process allows bars and clubs to add entertainment to their licence, by filling in an application form and putting a notice up outside for ten working days. The licensing authority responds within 15 days.

However a poll carried out by the Local Government Association (LGA) has found nine out of ten council licensing officers are worried this could pave the way for neighbourhood cafes and bars to stage noisy events, without local residents being able to have a say. More than half said they expected the noise increase to be considerable.

The LGA argued that the changes are unnecessary. Venues that want to have live music in the background rather than as a main attraction are currently able to make use of the ‘incidental music’ exemption, it said.

“Common sense measures to allow pubs and bars to put on live music with a minimum of bureaucracy are already in place and make further amendments pointless,” Cllr Chris White, Chair of the LGA’s Culture, Tourism and Sport board said. “Resisting the badly thought out plans for new exemption rules are not about automatically saying ‘no’ to live music. Councils want to be able to say ‘yes’, confident that local people have been considered as part of the process.”

Closing date for responses to the consultation is 9 February 2009.

For more information on the consultation, visit:

http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/consultations/6498.aspx