As reported today, a verdict has been reached following a noise complaint against live music venue the Duke of Cornwall.

Everyone who made a representation (comment) in support or against the Weymouth pub received an email from Dorset Council yesterday explaining the licensing subcommittee's decision.

The committee decided not to revoke the licence, but to attach conditions instead. 

If you've read Dorset Council's verdict notice, you may have noticed that the council has stated that 'the deregulation provisions set out in the Licensing Act 2003 (no longer) apply to the premises.'

This refers to the Live Music Act - a piece of legislation that gives smaller licenced premises greater freedoms to offer entertainment without the need for additional licensing arrangements. 

Those privileges have now been removed from the Duke of Cornwall's licence with the council's statement.

What is the Live Music Act?

First of all, a quick potted history.

In 2005 the concept of 'regulated entertainment' was born when the Licensing Act was introduced in the UK.

It did exactly what it said on the tin: live music, film screenings, dance performances, plays and indoor sports became licensable activities. Venues had to apply for an events licence to provide such entertainments. But for smaller venues the cost and amount of bureaucracy involved in this was prohibitive leading to concerns about the impact on small businesses and live music.

Campaigners such as the Musicians Union fought for reform amid concerns about pubs closing down. The Live Music Bill was put forward and later enshrined in law to help British businesses and live music scenes thrive amid tough economic times, and to support smaller, grassroots venues.

What does the Act do?

It means venues with an audience capacity of 500 people or fewer would not need an entertainments licence for music events, so long as the music was held between the hours of 8 am and 11 pm.

The Live Music Act also meant that noise levels were no longer enforceable in law. But councils who decide venues are causing a noise nuisance can issue noise abatement notices or carry out a licence review to permanently revoke the freedoms offered under the Live Music Act, or impose new conditions to limit noise.