Shut Up And Get On With It

Small venue licensing reform is in the long grass until after the election, according to investment analyst turned jazz expert Sebastian Scotney.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, he said the government is claiming “a boost for live music” although licensing minister Gerry Sutcliffe has only launched a new consultation on the issue.

Responses to the new “Consultation on a proposal to exempt small live music events from the requirements of the Licensing Act 2003” need to be with the department for culture, media and sport by March 23.

Scotney’s point is that after “six years of legislation (since the 2003 act), eight consultations, two government research projects, two national review processes and a Parliamentary Select Committee report,” it’s time the government shut up and got on with it and exempted all venues with room for fewer than 100 people.