ESSEX LEA PLEASE CHANGE THE 21 DAY LICENCE RULE!!!

[Georgeoliver]

It still makes me so mad
This is really affecting lots of children for jobs in modelling/tv ect
Just wondering if any of your dc have lost out on any jobs because of this? My ds agent have said that they can't put him forward for much at the moment until this changes unless of course the licence isn't needed for over 21 days! Even when Essex look into it again it will no dought be 10 days and this I feel is still to long
Why Is there not one rule for all the LEA's rahhhh
I'm going to start a petition as we need a licence within 7 days at least

[Flosmom]

Have you raised this with your local councillor? They are elected to represent you - and the officers of the LEA are accountable to them. Might be worth popping along to their next surgery.

Deb x

[Georgeoliver]

The problem is in the law. The LEA just say that they can have up to 21 days as that's the law so they are not breaking any rules There is such thing as an e-petition that can be passed about through email/Facebook ect but you have to get 100,000 signatures before they will look into it just seems so unfair it really does

[nextinline]

Really sorry to hear this Georgeoliver, we need a system that is fair for all

[Irishdancer]

My address is Essex but we are under Havering they are great glad that we don't have to use Essex LEA strange that 2 LEAs next to each other have so different views. Have they got a new person working for them, I knew people who used Essex LEA and they seemed to be able to get licences quicker.

[Georgeoliver]

No there is no new person. They were 7-10 days but are now short staffed so have said they need 21 days now! They are going to look into it again very soon and hopefully reduce the amount of days needed but I still don't understand why some are 7, some are 10, some are open for 6 months and some will even produce a licence in an hour if you go to them with paperwork! People who have LEA's that are on the ball will not be worried but I'm sure there must be lots of others who feel the same way as me. Not sure I could get 100,000 signatures though!!

[Tiggy]

We're in the same boat as you Georgeoliver, in essex and with the same agent I think. I was under the impression things should get back to normal after nxt week, as I was checking back on my emails and it was 21st may that we recieved email from agent telling us she wouldn't be able to put DD forward for anything unless they have more than 21 days.
Must admit I hadn't been too bothered at the time as DD had been quite poorly and I felt she needed a good month to recover, but now I'm starting to panic, its horrible to think of our kids missing opportunities

[pinky3]

Hi, would you mind pm'ing me the agent please? I am looking for a new one for my DD so it might influence my decision.

[puck]

We haven't had to get a licence for a little while so possibly things have changed but I have always found the staff at Essex to be very helpful and accomodating. Once when paperwork was caught up in a postal strike I offered to drive there with copies but they told me not to panic as 2/3 days to turn everything round would be plenty. I have always dealt directly with them as dd has never had an agent so don't know if this makes any difference. Having previously read complaints on here about other LEAs I though how lucky we were with Essex!

[Tiggy]

Yes I've always found them really good before, dealing with them directly, haven't needed them yet through agency as only quite recently joined . This is only supposed to be a temporary problem due to staff shortages, so fingers crossed

[francescasmum]

The lady I have always dealt with at our LEA has changed department. She always sounded excited when I talkied to her about a licence for dd and would bend over backwards to get her licence turned around quickly, occasionally next day. I am worried that her replacement will not be so diligent.

[threecees]

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[wissymo]

francessca's mum,we are in the same boat as you then it seems.Our LEA lady is fab but is only part time,term time only.DS has missed out on a few jobs
because of this but on the plus side she would always process licences with a day or too when she was there.She is now leaving and im worried that her replacement
could run things very differently!The 21 day rule could easily be brought into play after she leaves
gutted for you Georgeoliver,what a frustrating position to be in,seeing everyone else getting jobs knowing that your DS can't even be submitted!!! so unfair xx

[mathsmum]

i know it's the law - but i really would raise it with your local councillor - give examples of of jobs foregone - prestige for the borough that never happened - a future tax and council tax payer being discouraged from a career

find other lea's who take a totally concerned view of the child's welfare but still turn round a licence in 4/5 working days. i wouldn't go on about open licences personally - your councillor would have every reason to pioint outr they are no safeguard - but 4/5 days - or less in a council with few applications, where the ewo can get stuck straight in and make all the necessary checks quickly

if all else fails, try your mp

[allenli]

What we need is for the government to change the 21 day rule! Therefore, we should be lobbying our MPs to sort it out at the top as the LEA's are acting within their rights and this problem will only rear its head again even if it improves in the next few weeks.

The other alternative is that we could all volunteer to do the licences for the council! I know it is just a case of stamping a form and checking records so can't take long and if everyone who has a DS/DD in the business and has some free hours volunteered, problem solved!