Interestingly, when we asked the council about their "Interested Parties List" they refused to point out the specific part of the legislation which empowers this.
When pressed further they replied that it was "council policy".
Two things occur to me.
First, aren't they acknowledging, admitting even- albeit unwittingly, that it is council policy not to stick to the precise legal terms of the Act?
Second, given that the answer came from licensing officials, isn't it entirely likely that they are telling us that the decision to use the list is a council policy and, by inference that council policy is decided by politicians, it is those politicians who are who are responsible for operating outwith the Law. Perhaps the unelected officials already smell the stench of the difficult times ahead and are already preparing the ground to cover their own backs?
(Doesn't this have the smell of Sir Humphrey Appleby written all over it?
Finally Thomson and Taylor are being invited to appear on Talk107, the local talk radio station, on Alex Hastie's show next Friday night, after 10 pm, to raise these issues. It is proposed that the council be approached to have someone from licensing - we would suggest Chris Wigglesworth, Regulatory Committee convenor, to respond. We're not holding our breath that they will be keen to talk publicly to Taylor and Thomson but if it goes ahead we will confirm here.
This show is available live on the net at
www.talk107.co.uk.
Perhaps some from TDO could call in and support us?
Anyway, I'll confirm in a couple of days.