PSA’s Andy Lenthall talks Brexit

SO LONG AND THANKS FOR ALL THE FISH

PSA’s Andy Lenthall looks at what the latest Brexit deal means for live events.

We knew it was coming; leaving the EU would always mean less freedom of movement for goods, vehicles and people. There are issues to deal with, none of them insurmountable – this is event production after all. Of course, announcing a deal on Christmas Eve was a rather cruel twist when most of us were looking forward to a bit of a break; the industry’s most ardent Brexiteers (all six of you) would point out that even the timing was midnight in the EU rather than here.

It was pointed out that looking for the words ‘music’, ‘culture’ or ‘entertainment’ in the trade deal returned zero search results, while trawling for ‘fish’ or ‘fishing’ gave a couple of hundred results. Of course, the deal is very heavily weighted to trade in goods, so a keen eye on services linked to our sector was required. It’s not so much about what we are, but what we do, and that is move people and goods temporarily using roadgoing vehicles.

The best advice anyone can give at the moment is: don’t panic. At the time of writing, there are certainly some challenges, which are major or minor depending on the type or scale of the events you’re involved with. Here we can outline some and perhaps sketch out the plans that are already being formed by the industry groups that we’ve been working with for many years.

ACCESS FOR TRUCKS This is a tough one. From 1 January, the rules governing the amount of stops a UK-registered haulage vehicle over 3.5t laden weight could make in the EU reduced from four to two. EU hauliers may well soon be restricted to stops in each EU member state. Hauliers have been meeting regularly through the negotiation period to get updates, none of which were positive. As it stands, the only answer is for haulage providers to relocate to an EU country; this puts UK-based technology suppliers at a disadvantage, as they’d be best located near the transport supply.

It is no exaggeration that this is a threat to our position as the go-to country for beginning European tours. This could be resolved by separate negotiations with separate member states as, believe it or not, they are not totally governed by the EU. There are multi-department meetings

already arranged across international trade, transport and culture to start Our exit from the EU means that we’re hovering over a reset button, with a along the road to a solution, the issue is already flagged at high level in delay in the imposition of contributions for all workers that hop over from Government. If changes to rules for EU haulage providers come into force, the UK to work. that may well create an equal platform for the cultural sector to lobby for The trade deal talks of ‘detached workers’, which are workers who are exemptions. working in an EU state for less than 24 months. EU member states are being

There is strength in the fact that 85% of EU concert haulage is currently given an opt into this detached worker scheme (reciprocal, we believe), provided from the UK. A sudden return to European touring would be with a deadline of 31 January. So far, four member states have opted in and stifled by lack of access; the choice for the EU is to either allow greater the opt out rate is currently zero (at time of writing). If, for example, France access or simply wait for businesses to relocate and employ EU-based were to opt out, we’ve been assured that HMRC wouldn’t expect to charge workers paying tax in their new location. contributions on money already ‘taxed’ overseas. The mechanism for ACCESS FOR WORKERS ensuring that was not explained when we asked. Lots of confusion here between visas and work permits, with a very BORDER ARRANGEMENTS unhelpful ‘may require a work permit’ phrase permeating all conversations It’s interesting that the popular petition doing the rounds, the one asking on this matter. Among the plethora of circumstances, we seem to be for a two-year performer and crew visa (or is that work permit?) has an required to adopt the attitude of performers and crew from any other ‘third afterthought addition asking for the removal of carnet requirements. It country’ – a status that we’ve adopted for ourselves – although when asked could be said that asking for too much may get you nothing and, in this in the past, those that tour from bases outside the EU seemed to be of the case, they’re asking to remove something that’s been in use throughout the opinion that, once you’d started in the UK, everything in Schengen fell into existence of the EU; tours do carnets, we’ll just have to do more. Of course, place. Another reason to start anywhere other than this is a question of scale; grassroots bands could the UK. successfully tour the carnet-free zone until they

As far as working in the EU from the UK, there’s could afford the extra paperwork and expense. the possibility of 27 different approaches to work Then it gets to a point where the costs don’t permits for artists and crew. Initial outreach to matter relative to the money generated from a promoters in EU member states is yet to glean tour. ATA carnets are something that people may any information and Government are adamant have to get used to; it’s also something that could that they are not prepared to take on liability for benefit from a little financial support at grass producing separate guidance for each member roots level from the UK Government, along with state. As with everything, the assumption that it’s some sector-specific advice – who knows if you been OK for other third countries before so it will be have to include your towel? The COVID-19 delay OK for us could be a risky one to make. This could silver lining appears here too; it doesn’t really be a simple matter of us treating others as we’d like matter how good your paperwork is if there’s to be treated, setting clear exemptions for cultural a vehicle in front of you holding up the queue activity or live events and hoping for similar in “We knew it was coming; because theirs is not in order. Tales of woe due return, 27 times. leaving the EU would always to misinterpretation of rules exist; perhaps any border misunderstandings will be settled by the BENEFITS AND NATIONAL INSURANCE mean less freedom of time we have to cross. We’re sure many have experienced the delights of Form A1. In essence, when you work in a country, movement for goods, vehicles For a deal four years in the making, it’s surprisingly light in detail. Perhaps if it did that country expects you to pay into its benefits and people. There are issues mention music, touring, events, entertainment or system through their equivalent of National Insurance Contributions. Many have a number of to deal with, none of them anything specifically relevant, it could have been bad news. Perhaps now we have an opportunity exemptions, some requiring proof that you’ll be insurmountable – this is event to influence the required detail and find the making contributions back home and not suddenly becoming dependent on a foreign country’s state production after all.” answer: 42. TPi benefits system that you haven’t contributed to. Andy Lenthall, PSA www.psa.org.uk