Agenda item

Joint report of the City Remembrancer and the Director of Markets & Consumer Protection (copy attached).

The Committee received a joint report of the City Remembrancer and the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection which provided an overview of the Live Music Act 2012. The key points under the Act for Members to note were:

·           the licensing requirement is removed for unamplified live music taking place between 8am and 11pm in all venues;

·           the licensing requirement is removed for amplified live music taking place between 8am and 11pm before audiences of no more than 200 persons on premises authorised to supply alcohol for consumption on the premises;

·           the licensing requirement is removed for amplified live music taking place between 8am and 11pm before audiences of no more than 200 persons in workplaces not otherwise licensed under the 2003 Act (or licensed only for the provision of late night refreshment);

·           the licensing requirement for the provision of entertainment facilities is removed;

·           the licensing exemption for live music integral to a performance of Morris dancing or dancing of a similar type is widened, so that the exemption applies to live or recorded music instead of unamplified live music.

·           The licensing requirement can be reinstated and live music made licensable if a review of the licence is promoted by complaints.

       The report also described how the Licensing Service had implemented those aspects of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 which came into force on 25 April 2012.

A discussion took place on the word ‘appropriate’ being replaced with the word ‘necessary’ in relation to many aspects of the Licensing Act 2003, it was noted that the word ‘appropriate’ would suggest it was not ‘inappropriate’ when adding a condition onto a premises licence for example.

In response to a question by a Member, the Town Clerk explained that when PCTs were abolished, the status and constitution of the Health and Wellbeing Board would need to be checked to determine if it was a Responsible Authority which could make representations.

RESOLVED — that Members note the contents of the report.