Police to have power to issue last-minute TENs

Pubs will be able to get a last-minute temporary event notice (TEN) for "low-risk" events under new government plans.

Police will have the power to hand out TENS after the normal 10-day cut-off point, if government plans are approved.

The proposal was announced yesterday by licensing minister Gerry Sutcliffe during a wide-ranging debate in Parliament on the Licensing Act.

"On temporary event notices, we intend to consult on giving the police a discretionary power to allow late notifications for low-risk events... the police have indicated that, in principle, they would welcome such a discretion," he said.

He also confirmed that an upcoming consultation will lay out proposals to exempt venues with a capacity of 100 or fewer from needing a licence for live music.

But he did not rule out this figure being set at 200, which tallies with The Publican's Listen Up! ​ campaign.

"Clearly, if the consultation overwhelmingly shows that everybody is happier with the figure of 200… we will consider it," Sutcliffe said.

"We are suggesting the figure of 100, but that is one of the reasons for the consultation," he added.

The consultation will also look at changing the definition of "entertainment facilities", Sutcliffe said, which will mean a licensee just having a piano on their premises will not need a licence.

Sutcliffe also attacked councils for their approach to the licensing of live music. "I do not support local government being aggressive by putting preventions in place to stop live music," he told Parliament. "We must strike the right balance."

Yesterday's debate was initiated by John Whittingdale, chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport Select committee, whose report earlier this year on the Licensing Act called for a host of changes - including relaxing the laws on live music - was largely ignored by the government.

Earlier he argued: "There is no doubt that the requirement for all forms of live performance to be licensed is having a damaging effect."

However he remained unconvinced a consultation was needed on the issue, which could mean months before any changes become law. "The evidence is clear," Whittingdale said. "A huge amount of work has been done already, demonstrating that there is a need to relax the law in this area."

However Sutcliffe countered by saying it would be possible to bring in the changes before next year's General Election if there is cross-party support.

Meanwhile Sutcliffe again promised to extend the deadline for transferring a licence following the death of the premises licence-holder, from seven days to 28 days.