Council U-turn on licensing shambles
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
IN the wake of a mounting protest started in Ross-shire, Highland Council has scrapped plans to revamp rules surrounding free-to-enter events.
The prospect of organisers of events such as a planned Easter egg hunt on the Black Isle facing charges of up to £370 for permits prompted a storm of protest.
Concerns were first flagged up in last week's Ross-shire Journal.
Highland Council has now assured organisers of free-to-enter events that there will be no change to the current licensing arrangements when new guidance on public entertainment licensing is introduced on April 1.
This means that there will continue to be no charge for community or fund-raising events that are free to the public to attend.
It also means that events which currently involve an admission fee will continue to require payment for a public entertainment licence.
The Council has apologised for a lack of clarity in its previous guidance on the proposed changes to Public Entertainment Licensing from April 1, 2012.
Highland Licensing Committee chairman Councillor Peter Corbett said: “There was widespread concern within the Licensing Committee and the wider council membership about the prospect of charges being introduced for free-to-enter events organised by community and fund-raising groups.
“The impact on local community groups would have been significant and the last thing in the world we would want is to see an end to all the good work that volunteers undertake in their local towns and villages.
“We have looked at our rules governing public entertainment licensing and I am pleased to assure the public that the status quo will prevail from 1 April.
"If a group did not need a licence in the past they will not need one after April 1. Equally, if a group required a licence in the past they will continue to require a licence after April 1. I hope this gives communities the reassurance they were looking for."
The proposed changes had been condemned by several politicians including Highland Council budget leader, David Alston, and Ross MSP Rob Gibson.
