1. Campaigns making their marks

1.1 Two new consultations on fairer music licensing deals for clubs

Following 18 months of discussions between the Sport and Recreation Alliance and the Performing Rights Society (PRS), a new music tariff is out for public consultation. And, after such a long wait for this, it is perhaps inevitable that a Government consultation on music licensing and collecting societies has come out at the same time.

By giving your views on both of the consultations, set out in more detail below, you can help community sport and recreation clubs cut their costs and get a better deal.

A fairer music tariff
With the average Performing Rights Society (PRS) music tariff currently standing at £320 for a sports club, campaigning carried out by the Sport and Recreation Alliance has resulted in new proposals that the minimum fee drops from £91 to £42, and that normal tariffs be capped at £250.

So that the PRS can check that these new figures add up, it is vital that the consultation receives as much feedback as possible from national governing bodies and clubs. If you don’t think they do, then now is the chance to change things. Find notes, links and arguments to help with your response.

Holding collecting societies to account
In reaction to the regular accusation that collecting societies are legal monopolies which cannot be held to account, the Government is looking to implement a new consultation of changes to ensure that they meet minimum standards.

To ensure that clubs and facilities are explicitly included in the new guidelines, the Alliance has produced a time-saving guide to help you provide the best responses, and ensure that you only need answer the five key questions that matter out of the 114 questions in the report.

Visit our policy pages to find out more.

1.2 Sports clubs exempt from late-night levies

Following government recommendations to introduce a late-night levy on establishments that sell alcohol as a way of contributing towards the costs of policing alcohol-related disorder, the Alliance has successfully lobbied to exclude Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) and other community venues from initial proposals.

The Alliance’s view
The Alliance has long-argued that community clubs which serve alcohol should not be treated in the same way as profit-making pubs, clubs and bars, particularly for clubs which rely on bar revenue as a vital income stream.

But whilst this move is a very positive signal it remains only an intention at this stage, and further support will be required to ensure that the Government follows through with its proposals.

You can voice your support by replying to the consultation on the Home Office's website. Advice and guidance on how to respond can be found at the Alliance’s online consultation tracker.

Contact David Foster for further information.

1.3 Reprieve for local radio sports coverage

Lord Patten, Chairman of the BBC Trust, has thrown a lifeline to local radio station sports coverage following the Trust’s analysis of the recent BBC consultations on cost savings in the corporation.

In discussions with the BBC and through the consultation process, the Alliance has been arguing to reduce the proposed requirements for shared regional programmes, which threatened local sports coverage and magazine programmes during afternoons and evenings. In some cases it could have meant the loss of local commentary on many sports.

Find out more.
 

2. What’s new for 2012?

2.1 2012 policy work plan

With 2012 well underway, the Alliance has unveiled its policy plans for the year. Whilst continuing to challenge and work against any changes in rules and regulations faced by sport and recreation across the UK, some of the more major projects are:

Support:

• an occupiers’ and volunteers’ liability code
• a betting integrity code of good practice
• web resources for national governing bodies and clubs facing new challenges at a local level
• a code and expert working group for woodland managers.

Research:

• the transformational role of sport in society
• comparative European sport policy
• consultation planning for the 2013 Sports Club Survey
• exploration, analysis and guidance to simplify the process of applying for club licensing.

Campaigns:

• Red Card to Red Tape follow-up - one year on
• business rates analysis for clubs ahead of the 2013 government review
• continuing drive for Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC) improvements.

2.2 NEW: Policy web pages and consultation tracker

The Alliance has revamped the policy area of its website to make it easier for national governing bodies and clubs to see the issues and campaigns that the Sport and Recreation Alliance is campaigning on their behalf.

Features include briefing documents and analysis, consultation advice, and handy tools to help provide effective consultation responses. There is also a new consultation tracker which will be populated weekly with all live issues affecting the sport and recreation sector.

Visit the policy pages on the Sport and Recreation Alliance’s website to find out more.

3. News from Parliament

3.1 Lighter Later is talked out - but the campaign goes on

Despite overwhelming support from over 120 MPs from all main parties and 90 national organisations, the Daylight Saving Bill failed to progress beyond its third reading in the House of Commons, after a tiny minority succeeded in wasting time and talking it out.

If passed, the Bill would have required the Government to examine the case for moving the clocks forward by an hour all year round - a chance that would have been of great benefit to sport and recreation.

This is an unfortunate conclusion of two years of campaigning by the Lighter Later coalition, of which the Alliance is a member. Whilst the Bill is now unlikely to proceed without further Government intervention, the campaign to change the clocks will continue to build on the widespread support that has been generated both inside and outside of Parliament.

Visit the Lighter Later website for further updates.

3.2 Protection of Freedoms Bill

The Protection of Freedoms Bill is due to enter report stage in the House of Lords in February. The Alliance was one of 27 signatories of a letter urging the Government to ensure that all aspects of the new criminal records framework remain free for volunteers.

Through the Alliance’s parliamentary dialogue with the Home Office, lobbying will continue to ensure that the legislation takes into account the requirements and views of the sport and recreation sector.

Contact Simon Butler for further information.

3.3 Access to the great outdoors on Parliament’s agenda

The Sport and Recreation Alliance is holding a briefing event on 28 February hosted by the shadow Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) minister Fiona O’Donnell MP.

It will provide an opportunity for members to brief the minister and other parliamentarians on DEFRA policy changes to outdoor access, including coastal access, public rights of way, higher level stewardship, occupiers’ liability and forestry issues.

Feedback and actions from the event will be provided on the Alliance’s website. Contact Martin Key to find out more.

4. The health agenda

4.1 Public Health Outcomes Framework launched

The Department of Health has launched a new Public Health Outcomes Framework, which sets out the desired outcomes for public health. Progress will be measured according to a range of indicators, most relevantly:

• the proportion of excess weight in children
• the proportion of excess weight in adults
• the proportion of physically active adults
• utilisation of green space for exercise.

Results are expected to be delivered though locally-led programmes commissioned by local authorities, with a health premium awarded to those who make the most progress.

Find out more on the Department of Health’s website, or contact Simon Butler for information on the Alliance’s work in this area.

5. Consultations

5.1 Live consultations

All of the Alliance’s live consultations, including a review on employing people aged under 18 in sports facilities, music licensing, and the late night levy can now be found in the new one-stop consultation tracker.

5.2 Scottish adventure activities

Following the UK government’s decision to abolish statutory licensing of adventure activities, the Scottish Government is now seeking a replacement that meets the needs of its own customers and providers. The consultation proposes three options:

1) Adopt the English model based on a voluntary code of practice
2) Introduce a non-statutory scheme such as those offered by national governing bodies
3) Introduce statutory licensing.

The Alliance’s view
The Alliance believes that there should be a UK solution for ensuring confidence in the provision of adventure activities. Statutory licensing was never satisfactory because it only covered limited activities and was not flexible enough to meet the needs of the industry.

The new ‘English model’ based on a voluntary code of practice has been dismissed by the industry as inadequate and the Alliance will not endorse it. The Alliance believes that the only way of achieving a simple solution for all countries is to use a non-statutory scheme that recognises quality accreditation schemes such as those available from national governing bodies or Adventuremark.

Visit the Scottish Government’s website before 30 March 2012 to have your say. The consultation seeks the views of customers or providers of adventure activities, and is not limited to people living in Scotland.

5.3 Completed consultations

All of the Alliance’s completed consultations, including recent projects on inside information and standards for school premises can be found on the policy pages of the website.

6. Europe

6.1 Denmark takes over EU Presidency

Denmark has taken over the rotating six-month Presidency of the European Union and has pledged to focus its attention on four principal areas in the field of sport:

1. Sport funding programme from 2014
2. Anti-doping
3. Match-fixing
4. Promotion of sport for all.

The Alliance’s view
It is pleasing to see that the Danes are going to focus on the sport funding sub-programme from 2014, as this could prove to be a very useful avenue for securing extra financial resources for European sporting projects in the future.

It is also encouraging to see that they wish to continue with the work that the Polish Presidency has done on match-fixing, particularly when we consider the pertinence of this issue at the current time.

The Alliance will seek to co-operate closely with the new presidency over the next six months and will continue to work with the Commission and MEPs on key issues such as funding, online gambling and governance.

We will also continue in our role as chair of the council’s expert working group on sustainable financing, which provides an excellent opportunity for the Alliance to directly influence the Commission’s agenda.

For any further information on European issues, contact David Foster.