Bouncy castle fee would have cost £435
CONTROVERSIAL fees for public entertainment licences in the Highland look set to be vetoed by licensing chiefs, who admit the proposed charges would be unfair.
Community and voluntary groups, charities and other organisations needing the licence were told by Highland Council in January they would be charged from 1st April because of amended legislation.
The authority said the revised Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 would mean some public events would need a licence which could cost from £153 to more than £10,000 for three years’ permission to hold commercial outdoor events for more than 30,000 people.
However, the changes provoked a storm of protest and groups behind events like galas, school fêtes and senior citizens’ parties feared they would have to stump up hundreds of pounds.
Rosemarkie Amenities Association said it had been told it would need a public entertainment licence costing £153 for a children’s Easter egg hunt.
But the Highland Licensing Committee met in Inverness today and discussed the controversial rules in private after members, including chairman Peter Corbett, received a barrage of complaints.
The board has now decided to oppose the legislation changes and will make a recommendation to the full council to scrap the proposed fees.
Councillor Corbett (Inverness Central), said the board would ensure no community or voluntary groups would have to fork out for the licence.
“It wasn’t on the agenda but we have had a lot of concerns raised to us so decided to discuss it this morning. We want to make it clear to everybody that we are not having this,” he said. “It is totally unfair. We are not going to be charging £435 for a bouncy castle.”
The city councillor added it would meet the local authority’s chief executive Alistair Dodds tomorrow so a recommendation to ditch fees can be drawn up.
If it is not submitted in time for the council meeting on 5th April the board would seek an extraordinary meeting, added Councillor Corbett.
As reported in last Friday’s Northern Times, East Sutherland and Edderton councillor Deirdre Mackay had organised a crisis meeting with the council’s chief executive, Alistair Dodds, urging him to bring in emergency measures to suspend the charges.
* More on this story in this week's Northern Times.
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