Licence Required to Distribute Printed Leaflets

Ever since technology was capable of printing information onto paper, leaflets and flyers have played a pivotal role in Britain’s economic, political, social and cultural life.

From night clubbing flyers to kebab takeaway menus and special offers, we receive many hundreds each year.

Councils up and down the country are using the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 to stop the distribution of printed flyers and leaflets without their consent. This is forcing companies and people to buy licences which need to be renewed on a yearly basis.
Leeds University students were apparently informed they would have to purchase a licence to leaflet each other in student halls and on university grounds.

Local business forums throughout the country claim that thousands of small to medium sized organisations, such as health and comedy clubs, local businesses, political campaigners and student societies are being impacted and their 'civic freedoms' infringed as the cost of the licenses are deemed expensive for their needs.

Leeds council charges on a per person basis with a single monthly authorisation badge being £50. If a company requires multiple badge then the prices rises for each badge, for example 5 badges applied for the cost would be £75 + £100 + £150 + £175 + £175 = £675

Type of consent Fee
Monthly authorization badge £50
Annual – 1st authorization badge applied for £75
Annual – 2nd authorization badge applied for £100
Annual – 3rd authorization badge applied for £150
Annual – 4th and subsequent authorization badge applied for £175

Local business forums are claiming that flyer and leaflet distribution causes no more of a litter problem than pizza boxes or burger wrappers. There are also claims that local councils are hypocritical in that they hand out plenty of their own printed material.

The head of the Institute of Art in Leeds had been threatened with a fine from Leeds Council for distributing flyers to an up and coming arts event at a local gallery in which the proceeds were going to charity.

The head of the Institute of Art said: ‘We were approached by a very overbearing council official stating that we needed a licence and the only reason he let us off a fine was because he was in a “good mood”’.
The intention of the legislation was to reduce the amount of unsolicited mail but at the moment it is being used to stop local events advertising.

A director of a local company, Michael Jones said: 'It's disgraceful that that this freedom has been reversed in five years. Local Councils said they are tackling litter but these restrictions are actually having a negative effect on local businesses. Big businesses are able to afford the licence fees but it is the small theatre or music night that is ultimately squeezed out of public arena. The continued growth of the council’s own leaflet and flyer distribution implies that there is free speech only for local authorities. What we want is a review of these council powers and a more open-minded approach that recognises leafleting and flyering as a key civic freedom.'

It has been revealed that 45 local authorities in England and Wales have insisted people have to purchase a licence to distribute flyers. Furthermore, a number of people have already been banned but none yet have been prosecuted.

Many groups across the country are protesting for their right to distribute publicity material, including a night club in Manchester, comedy clubs across the north of England and the event organisers for a student festival in Sheffield. Their argument is that leaflet distribution is hand-to-hand communication between people and therefore should not be controlled by local councils.

This is a contentious issue across the UK. At Sorted Media we have the licence to distribute leaflets across Leeds and West Yorkshire. We also are able to offer great deals on leaflet printing and design.