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LICENSING ACT 2003 – TEMPORARY EVENT NOTICES
The Acting Head of Legal and Administrative Services to report on the situation regarding the use of TENS. Temporary Event Notices are often likened to the old “occasional licence” granted by the Licensing Justices. They are primarily for use where a premises does not have a premises licence or it has a licence but it does not cover the licensable activity intended. In addition “ad hoc” or unpredicted events (such as charity fund raising evenings) can be covered.
The limits for TENS are as follows:
1.Event cannot last longer than 96 hours.
2.Event cannot be attended by more than 499 persons at any one time.
3.There must be a gap of at least 24 hours between events.
4.A single premises can only host a maximum of 12 TEN events per calendar year.
5.A premises may not use TENs to exceed an aggregate of 15 days per calendar year.
6.A premises user, or their associate(s) must observe the personal limits for submission of TENs.
A fee is payable for each TEN of £23 and at least 10 working days notice is necessary and 2 copies of the Notice must be served on the Licensing Authority and one on the Police.
Some village halls management committees are relying on TENS for events held on their premises. If the village hall is rarely used for licensable activities then a TEN offers an opportunity to hold a different type of event. However, if the village or community hall or centre is regularly used for licensable activities, including being hired out for parties, performances and shows it is most likely that a premises licence would be suitable. A premises licence will cover a year for all the licensable activities on the licence. This will cost a village hall £100 plus advertising. The annual renewal is £70.
Officers are conscious that many village hall organisers are concerned that TENS do not provide the flexibility they were, perhaps, expecting.
Officers therefore would recommend that they be authorised to report the comments of the Committee on the use of TENS by village halls to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport at the appropriate time.
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