Highland community event charges expected to be vetoed

Controversial fees for public entertainment licences in Badenoch and Strathspey and the wider Highlands look set to 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 April 1 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 £76.50 - for a six-week licence to cover a community hall event - 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 had even been told they would need a public entertainment licence costing £153 for a children’s Easter egg hunt.

There had also been criticism from community event organisers in places including Boat of Garten and Kingussie who feared that fund-raising events would have to be scrapped.

The Highland Licensing Committee met in Inverness today (Tuesday), 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 not 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 later today so a recommendation to ditch fees can be drawn up.

If it is not submitted in time for the council meeting on April 5 the board would seek an extraordinary meeting, added Councillor Corbett.

Highland SNP MSP Rob Gibson said the idea behind the government changes was to help councils crack down on events like illegal raves and claimed they still retained the discretion whether to charge.

The SNP Highland Council group also said last week there was scope in the legislation to waiver small, community events.