| Licence Summary: | The safety of spectators who visit sports grounds for sporting or other events is governed by the requirements of the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 and the Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sports Act 1987.
Safety certificates cover the physical condition of sports grounds and the safety management provision. A safe capacity is determined for each facility.
Designated grounds - safety certificate
Under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975, if you operate a sports ground in England, that holds more than 5,000 for football or 10,000 spectators for other sports, you may be required to hold a safety certificate.
A sports ground is defined as a place where sports or other competitive activities take place in the open air, and where accommodation is provided for spectators including artificial structures, or natural structures artificially modified.
A safety certificate may be either:
- A general safety certificate issued for the use of a sports ground for a specified activity, or activities, during an indefinite period
- A special safety certificate for the use of a sports ground for a specified activity or activities on a specified occasion or occasions
Safety certificates are obtained from the local authority in which the sports ground is located. You must comply with any terms or conditions attached to a certificate. These legislative provisions do not apply to indoor arenas, however, a sports ground with a retractable roof that is open for some sport being played will fall under the definition of a sports ground.
Such grounds are defined under the legislation as "designated grounds". Designated Ground Safety Certificates deal with safety aspects relating to the entire ground.
Regulated stand - safety certificate
The Fire Safety and Places of Sport Act 1987 requires that football and other sports grounds that do not meet the criteria of a 'designated ground', but have covered accommodation for more than 500 people, obtain a 'regulated stand certificate' in respect of such accommodation.
Regulated Stand Certificates only relate to the safety of the stand and to the means of access and egress from it. |
| Eligibility Criteria: | To be eligible for a safety certificate, you must be likely to be in a position to prevent contravention of the terms and conditions of a certificate. |
| Regulation Summary: | Safety of Sports Ground Certificates are issued under
|
| Evaluation Process: | Applicants must provide requested information and plans to us within the time specified. If the applicant fails to provide the requested information within the specified time the application will be deemed to have been withdrawn.
We will consider if the applicant is in a position to prevent any breach of the terms and conditions of a certificate.
We, as the local authority must send a copy of an application for a safety certificate to the chief police officer of the area, the fire and rescue authority if they are not that authority and the building authority if they are not that authority in England and Wales.
If an application is made to transfer a certificate, the local authority must determine if the person to whom the certificate is to be transferred would qualify for the issue of a certificate. The applicant may be the current holder of the certificate or the person to whom the certificate is to be transferred.
The local authority must send a copy of a transfer application to the chief police officer of the area, the fire and rescue authority if they are not that authority and the building authority if they are not that authority in England and Wales. They shall consult them about any proposed amendment, replacement or transfer.
Plans and attached documents submitted by the applicant should be clear and legible in all material respects, capable of being read, reproduced in written form and used for subsequent reference by our inspectors and responsible authorities. Where this is not the case the applicant / agent will be contacted to resubmit the plans. |
| Apply Online: | Application for a sport ground safety certificate
Application to change a safety certificate for a sports ground
Application to certify a regulated stand at a sports ground
Application to change a safety certificate for a regulated stand at a sports ground |
| Tacit Consent: | No, due to reasons of public safety it is in the public interest that the authority must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from this authority within a reasonable period, please contact us on the details provided. |
| Failed Application: | Please contact Council in the first instance using the contact details provided at the bottom of the page.
Any applicant who is refused a safety certificate because they are not considered to be an eligible person can appeal to the Magistrates court.
An applicant who is refused a special safety certificate may also appeal to the Magistrates court against a refusal of his application based on grounds other than a decision that they are not an eligible person. |
| Licence Holder Redress: | Any Certificate holder who wishes to appeal against a condition attached to, or the omission of anything from, their safety certificate, or against the refusal to amend or replace a safety certificate, or the service of a prohibition notice may appeal to the Magistrates court. They may also appeal to the county court against an order of the Magistrate's court. |
| Consumer Complaint: | We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made by you - preferably in the form of a letter or e-mail to the Divisional Manager Highways Maintenance (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked please use the North East Lincolnshire Council Complaints procedure. |
| Other Redress: | Any person concerned in ensuring compliance with the terms and conditions of the safety certificate may appeal to the Magistrate's court against any condition attached to, or the omission of anything from, a safety certificate, or against the refusal to amend or replace a safety certificate. |
| Public Registers or Databases: | No public register available. |
| Trade Associations: | Federation of Sports and Play Associations (FSPA) |