Last-minute TENs plan under threat
Plans to make it easier for licensees to stage last-minute events are under threat.
Culture secretary Ben Bradshaw is to "look again" at plans to let licensees submit temporary events notices (TENs) for low-risk events at short notice, it was revealed this week.
Under the proposal, hosts must give an "absolute minimum" of three days' notice for TENs that cause no disorder concerns for police. The current notice period is 10 working days.
But a new briefing paper from the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) says there's been significant opposition to the plan, so Bradshaw will "look again" before pushing for changes to the Licensing Act.
Suggestions that the plan could be shelved will come as a blow to licensees. Late-notice TENs were seen as useful for hosts who want to stage events at short notice, or reschedule them due to unforeseen circumstances.
DCMS said 32 groups, including trade bodies, backed the plan in response to the consultation, which closed on 9 February.
About 10 organisations opposed the move and 24 groups, including councils and licensing authorities, supported the principles, but opposed the details.
Concerns were expressed about the amount of time councils would have to consider noise and safety issues.
The Association of Chief Police Officers feared the police's discretion to oppose a TEN would be challenged.
Morning Advertiser legal editor Peter Coulson said: "I am staggered by the fact that the DCMS has bottled out on this occasion. Here was a much-needed reform, which on any analysis would not have created major administrative or social problems."
The Government will also re-examine plans to scrap the need for councils' licensing policy statements to be revised every three years. It could mean an extra burden for trade groups that have to scrutinise them.
