You may pick up in the media the issues around the IPO announcement that exemptions from licensing are to be removed.
In very simple terms this means that PPL will now be able to charge for a licence – charitable halls have previously been exempt. There has never been an exemption from PRS (as you know) for halls only for worship and hospitals. You may recall the consultation back in the summer. See ACRE’s website.
I have been working closely with the CS Law Monitoring Group (i.e. CCPR, Community Matters, Girl Guiding, Churches, NCVO) all of whom have buildings that will be affected. We have had 3 face to face meetings during the summer with PRS and PPL. Both organisations have been advised that they have to work with the sector to create a tariff that is acceptable. We are currently negotiating a joint flat rate tariff so that halls will pay one fee for both licences.
The Statutory Instrument that lays down the legislation is expected to go through before Easter and it is apparently extremely rare for SIs to be thrown out or changed so lobbying against it is unlikely to change the situation. However, this does not mean that campaigning/lobbying MPs to express concerns and raise awareness cannot take place and you may have seen comments by NCVO in the media this week expressing disappointment etc.