DEVELOPMENT CONTROL AND REGULATION COMMITTEE Meeting date: 20 September 2017 From: Corporate Director – Economy and Highways SAFETY AT SPORTS GROUNDS 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 This annual report is intended to update the Committee on the current situation at the seven Sports Grounds which require Certification, either wholly under the Safety of Sports Ground Act 1975, or in part under the Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act 1987. 1.2 This report informs the Committee of the work of the Safety of Sports Grounds Team carried out during the last year. It explains the County Council’s statutory obligations under the relevant legislation and outlines the activity carried out to ensure that these duties have been met. The performance of the team is detailed. Finally, it advises the Committee of the future workload planning for the team to ensure that the Council will continue to meet its statutory obligations in this area 2.0 POLICY POSITION, BUDGETARY AND EQUALITY IMPLICATIONS, AND LINKS TO COUNCIL PLAN 2.1 The County Council’s policy is for annual renewal of the General Safety Certificates following receipt of satisfactory reports from the Safety Advisory Group. Recommendations contained in this report adhere to the County Council’s policies regarding spectator safety at sports grounds. 2.2 There is no resource or value for money implications. 2.3 There are no equality implications arising from this report. Safe access and movement within venues, particularly in the event of an emergency for all users is considered as part of the safety team’s inspections. The Safety of Spectator inspections take into consideration the safety of all spectators, particularly those with disabilities, the elderly, families and children. 1 3.0 RECOMMENDATION 3.1 That the annual report be received and noted by Members. 3.2 That the Members note the re-issuing of the seven General Safety Certificates effective from 1 August 2017. 4.0 BACKGROUND 4.1 Cumbria County Council is responsible for administering the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975, and the Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act 1987, in respect of sports grounds in Cumbria. 4.2 This responsibility covers designated grounds which are sports grounds with a capacity of over 10,000 (5,000 for football). They are designated under the 1975 Act, and require a safety certificate granted by the local authority. Cumbria County Council has responsibility for the designated grounds at Carlisle United Football Club (capacity 18,316 maximum) and Workington Town Rugby League Football Club (capacity 9,473 maximum). 4.3 Sports stadia which are not designated but contain covered stands with a capacity of 500 or more standing or seated spectators require a safety certificate under the Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act 1987, granted by the local authority. Cumbria County Council has responsibility for the following five regulated stands: Carlisle Racecourse – horse racing Workington AFC – football Whitehaven Rugby League Football Club – rugby Barrow AFC - football Barrow Rugby League Football Club - rugby 4.4 The Act places a statutory duty on the Local Authority and the Emergency Services to provide advice and guidance to managers of sports grounds on how best to discharge their responsibility, under the Act. 4.5 In each of the 4 districts which have grounds that require certificates, there is an officers Safety Advisory Group (SAG) made up of representatives from the sports club and other partners. Each SAG is chaired by an officer of the County Council. The SAG brings key partners (emergency services, and other key local authority officers) together to plan and prepare for spectator safety. The involvement of the SAG does not absolve the ground management of the ultimate responsibility for spectator safety. When applying the guidance and recommendations, the principal objective is “to secure reasonable safety at the sports ground when it is in use for the specified activity”. 2 4.6 During the year all of the premises listed above received an audit and a during event safety of sports grounds inspection, to ensure the efficiency of the safety of spectator controls. 4.7 With the aid of grounds records, policies and safety certificates the following criteria were inspected at each site to ensure the safety of all spectators, including those with disabilities, the elderly, families and children: Construction and maintenance of the premise Operation and management Training and development of safety staff Fire safety Provision of adequate medical facilities Appropriate contingency plans Issues identified by these inspections have been subsequently addressed to ensure that all spectators remain safe whilst attending events. 5.0 STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS REPORTS 5.1 As a result of structural engineers reports Borough Park had its capacity reduced from 3099 to zero between 21 June 2017 and 11 July 2017.This was due to repairs being required to purlins, columns and trusses in the East and South stands. This had no impact on the ground as this was in the off season. Capacity was reinstated after a second structural engineers report was received signing off the repairs. 5.2 Derwent Park also had its capacity reduced from 9473 to 1999 from 21 June 2017 to 15 August 2017 .Several faults were identified, sharp edges on barriers, loose electrical wiring and defects to the floodlights and cracks in a wall. A new structural report has been resubmitted with all faults rectified. On completion of the work the rugby ground has had its full capacity reinstated. No effect on the ground as capacity was not reduced to such a degree that affected their normal gate. Capacity was reinstated after a second structural engineers report was received signing off the repairs. 5.3 The Recreation Ground in Whitehaven structural engineer’s report highlighted several problems, loose roofing on entrance and scoreboard, it was also recommended that the base to the flood light bases be painted and Denso tape applied, this resulted in a reduction in capacity from 8261 to 4131 between the dates of 23 June 2017 and 31 July 2017. The required repairs have all been carried out and signed off by the club’s structural engineer and the usual capacity reinstated. No effect on the ground as capacity was not reduced to such a degree that affected their normal gate. 3 6.0 SPECIAL SAFETY CERTIFICATES 6.1 Carlisle United Football Club applied to Cumbria County Council for two Special Safety Certificates to hold two pop concerts over the weekend of 2 June 2017. Following a number of meetings with the club and interested parties and taking into account the documentation including the Event Management and Safety plan a Special Safety Certificate was issued. 6.2 Two further Special Safety Certificates were issued by CCC to Workington Town Rugby League Football Club to enable them to hold a “Pop Concert” on 20 May 2017 and a "Fight Night on 24 June 2017. 6.3 A Special Safety Certificate was also issued by CCC to Whitehaven Rugby League Football Club for a concert held on 5 August 2017. 7.0 RESOURCES 7.1 The resources applied to this task are drawn from three designated staff employed within the Trading Standards Service, and the Safety of Sports Grounds work forms part of their overall activity. This enables the resourcing for a specialist area to be managed efficiently. 7.2 The three designated officers carry out the inspection work providing comprehensive reports to the Safety Advisory Group and relevant sports grounds following inspection. An additional officer within the Trading Standards team will be trained to provide support to the designated officers should strategic and tactical emergency meetings become necessary providing contingency and resilience for the statutory service. 7.3 Cumbria County Council met this obligation in 2016/17, completing inspection of 100% of its designated grounds and regulated stands. In addition all of these venues were visited during an event day. Specific and where appropriate, extraordinary, SAG meetings were held to oversee and enhance spectator safety by assisting safety managers and event organisers to develop and implement robust spectator safety management controls. The SAG’s for these events were chaired and administered by the designated officers. 7.4 The Safety of Sports Grounds team, along with key SAG partners, provides support and guidance to the management of the sports grounds to facilitate ongoing crowd safety whilst ensuring that regulation is not over burdensome or restrictive on the growth of the venue. This support and guidance enables the business to progress, develop and on occasion diversify from the intended use of the venue. 4 7.5 At present, the Council does not charge for the issuing of a Safety Certificate for a small localised event for the benefit of the community. However, where the event is a large or commercial event, then a fee, commensurate to the actual work carried out in issuing the Safety Certificate, is charged. 8.0 LEGAL IMPLICATIONS 8.1 The Team fulfils the responsibilities of the County Council under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975, and the Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act 1987, in respect of Sports Grounds in Cumbria. 9.0 CONCLUSION 9.1 Cumbria County Council met its statutory obligations in respect of the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975, and the Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act 1987. It carried out inspections at all designated grounds and regulated stands, and gave remedial advice where necessary. D Donnini Corporate Director – Economy and Highways BACKGROUND PAPERS No Background Papers. REPORT AUTHOR C Drakes. [email protected] J Greenbank [email protected] 5.