The facilities inquiry – a chance to give your views about the UK’s sports facilities
The Facilities Inquiry - an independent national inquiry - examining issues around the UK’s sports facilities is now live. Chaired by sports broadcaster John Inverdale, with an expert panel drawn from a range of backgrounds, the inquiry will ask whether the country has enough sport and leisure facilities, what condition they are in and how easily people can access them.
The Facilities Inquiry will take evidence from a range of people and organisations and users of gyms, parks, pitches, pathways and waterways will be invited to give their views to their panel at a series of evidence gathering sessions and through the dedicated website – www.facilitiesinquiry.org.uk.
Panel chair, John Inverdale, believes that the quality of our facilities are central to the UK’s sporting culture:
“Sport is a really big deal to me, just like it is to millions of other people. It’s not just my job but it’s a big part of my life too. And the facilities where sports and activity take place are instrumental to how and how much we take part.
“I want this inquiry to get into the nitty-gritty of the UK’s facility stock – and that’s something we haven’t done for a while. We don’t really understand enough about what people’s expectations are or what they want when it comes to doing sport. The Facilities Inquiry will really get to the bottom of those issues and come up with recommendations which will help get more people more active.
To provide your views please visit – www.facilitiesinquiry.org.uk - where you can access a background paper with key facts and figures on the existing facility stock, plus a series of questions to prompt your thoughts on particular issues. The panel looks forward to receiving your input in due course.
Music licensing update
Under current law sports clubs are required to purchase Performing Right Society licences for the use of music within their venues. The fees from these licences are distributed to composers and recording artists. Clubs have however benefitted from exemptions from Public Performance Ltd licences, the fees from which are distributed to music publishing companies. Despite strong opposition from CCPR and groups representing charities, the Government has decided to revoke these exemptions, leaving sports clubs and other voluntary groups eligible to pay both licences.
CCPR and its partners are now seeking the best possible solution to this situation – i.e. an affordable and simple fee structure. To help us get this right for you it would be helpful if you could click here and complete this music licensing survey. Rest assured that no information on your club will be passed to the music licensing bodies. Thank you for your help with this important issue.
