DEVELOPMENT CONTROL AND REGULATION COMMITTEE Paper No. Meeting date: 22 July 2008 From: Corporate Director – Safer and Stronger Communities 6 SAFETY AT SPORTS GROUNDS 2008 Annual Report Renewal of Certificates Members Safety Panel Inspections 2008 Audit Results Variation in capacity at Brunton Park, Carlisle Variation in capacity at Craven Park, Barrow Variation in the ‘S’ factor at Borough Park, Workington Variation in capacity at Carlisle Racecourse Variation in capacity at Holker Street, Barrow Variation in capacity at Whitehaven Recreation Ground Steward Training and ‘During Performance’ Inspections Application for a Special Safety Certificate at Whitehaven Recreation Ground Incident Updates Stadium Watch Legislative Update Emergency Services Major Incident Plans Progress Amendments to Conditions of License in the General Safety Certificates 1 Safety Advisory Group Officer Training Course Cartmel Racecourse – Members Safety Panel visit Football Licensing Authority changes Regional and National Sports Grounds Update 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. Under the 1975 Act, Grounds which were known to have held crowds in excess of 10,000 have been designated by the Secretary of State and require a General Safety Certificate for the whole Ground (5,000 for football league stadiums). Under the 1987 Act, other Grounds which have covered stands, which provide seated and/or standing accommodation for 500 or more spectators, also require a General Safety Certificate for these stands. 1.2 This report seeks the Committee’s approval to re-issue the seven General Safety Certificates to the licensed sports grounds within Cumbria effective from the 1 August 2008, for a period of a further 12 months in accordance with current legislation which requires the Council as the enforcing authority for spectator safety, to undertake every year as part of its’ annual review of the licensed sports grounds. 1.3 This report is to inform the Committee of the Members Safety Panel inspections and findings of April 2008. 1.4 This report is to inform Members of the 2008 audit results following the Safety Advisory Group’s inspection of all seven licensed grounds. Some of these findings form part of recommendations later in this report. 1.5 This report seeks the Committee’s approval to increase the capacity at Brunton Park, Carlisle following this year’s audit, to reflect the Council’s confidence in the safety management of the Ground. 1.6 This report seeks the Committee’s approval to increase the capacity at Craven Park, Barrow following this year’s audit, to reflect the Council’s confidence in the safety management of the Ground. 1.7 This report seeks the Committee’s approval to decrease the ‘S’ factor at Borough Park, Workington following this year’s audit, to reflect the Council’s concern regarding the safety management of the Ground. 2 1.8 This report seeks the Committee’s approval to increase the capacity figures at Carlisle Racecourse following this year’s audit, to reflect the Council’s confidence in the safety management of the Ground. 1.9 This report seeks the Committee’s approval to increase the capacity figures at Holker Street, Barrow following this year’s audit, to reflect the Council’s confidence in the safety management of the Ground. 1.10 This report seeks the Committee’s approval to increase the capacity figures at Whitehaven Recreation Ground following this year’s audit, to reflect the Council’s confidence in the safety management of the Ground. 1.11 This report is to inform Members of the progress in steward training that has taken place at Clubs over the past 12 months and the findings of ‘during performance’ inspections carried out by the Safety Advisory Group. 1.12 This report seeks the Committee’s approval to issue a Special Safety Certificate to Whitehaven Recreation Ground for a pop concert, headed by Status Quo, on Saturday 2 August 2008. 1.13 This report is intended to inform Members about incidents that have occurred at sports grounds since the last annual report. 1.14 This report is to inform Members about incidents involving ‘Stadium Watch’ within Cumbria. 1.15 This report is to update Members on the legislative and national guidance changes that affect enforcement at sports grounds since the last annual report. 1.16 This report is to update Members on the progress of the emergency services major incident plans for eight sports grounds in Cumbria (7 certificated + 1 non-certificated). 1.17 This report is to inform Members of changes to Conditions in the General Safety Certificate since the last annual report. 1.18 This report is to inform Members about the Safety Advisory Group Officer training course held at Brunton Park, Carlisle in April 2008. 1.19 This report is to inform Members of a visit to Cartmel Racecourse by the Members Safety Inspection Panel in July 2008. 1.20 This is to inform Members of changes within the Football Licensing Authority and it’s implications for Cumbria. 1.21 This report is to update Members regarding Cumbria’s role at both Regional and National level in enforcement of safety at sports grounds. 3 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 and the Committee’s own fact-finding visits. Recommendations contained in this report adhere to the County Council’s policies regarding spectator safety at sports grounds. There are no budgetary implications from this report. 2.2 There are no equality implications arising from this report. 3.0 RECOMMENDATION 3.1 That the annual report be received and approved by Members. 3.2 That the seven General Safety Certificates be renewed effective from 1 August 2008. 3.3 That the Members accept the visits by their own Safety Panel as fact finding inspections on behalf of the whole Committee. 3.4 That the annual audit and its’ findings be received and approved by Members. 3.5 That Members approve of the variation to the capacity at Brunton Park, Carlisle, through an increase in the ‘S’ factor. 3.6 That Members approve of the variation to the capacity at Craven Park, Barrow, through an increase in the ‘S’ factor. 3.7 That Members approve of the decrease of the ‘S’ factor at Borough Park Workington, although there will be no actual decrease in numbers due to the lower ‘P’ factor. 3.8 That Members approve of the variation to the capacity at Carlisle Racecourse, through an increase in the ‘S’ factor. 3.9 That Members approve of the, variation to the capacity at Holker Street, Barrow, through an increase in the ‘S’ factor. 3.10 That Members approve of the variation to the capacity at Whitehaven Recreation Ground, through an increase in the ‘S’ factor. 3.11 That Members take note of the findings of the Safety Advisory Group (SAG) regarding steward competency at Clubs, as a result of the SAG carrying out ‘During Performance’ inspections over the past 12 months. 3.12 That Members approve the issuing of a Special Safety Certificate to Whitehaven Rugby League Football Club Limited allowing the Club to hold a Status Quo pop concert in the Ground on Saturday 2 August 2008, subject to final approval by the Chair of the Safety Advisory Group that all safety matters have been complied with prior to the 2 August 2007. 4 3.13 That Members take note of the various incidents regarding public safety that have occurred at sports grounds since the last annual report, which have warranted detailed investigation. 3.14 That Members take note of the ‘Stadium Watch’ effect since it’s launch on the 17 May 2007. 3.15 That Members take note of the legislative changes that have affected Clubs since the last annual report. 3.16 That Members take note of the progress level of the 3 emergency services Major Incident Contingency Planning. 3.17 That Members take note of the additional amendments to the Conditions of License incorporated into all seven of the General Safety Certificates since the last annual report. 3.18 That Members take note of the success of the ‘piloted’ Safety Advisory Group Officer training course held at Brunton Park, Carlisle in April 2008. 3.19 That Members take note of the Safety Inspection Panels’ visit to Cartmel Racecourse on the 17 July 2008. 3.20 That Members take note of the changes to the Football Licensing Authority and it’s implication for Cumbria. 3.21 That Members take note of Cumbria’s involvement and leading role within the Northern Safety of Sports Ground Group and at national co-ordination level. 4.0 BACKGROUND 4.1 This report is from the Directorate for Safer and Stronger communities which has been responsible for the administration of the 7 certificated Sports Grounds within Cumbria on behalf of the enforcing authority Cumbria County Council, since 1 March 2003. This annual report and other matters contained within are based on activities at these 7 Sports Grounds since the last annual report of 27 July 2007. 4.2 Since the last report, a full audit of all the Grounds has been carried out by the Safety Advisory Group (SAG) in May – June 2008. These audits were introduced by the then Directorate of Public Protection in 2003 in order to fact find managements’ attitude and ethos towards spectator safety, covering areas of safety policies, responsibilities, record keeping, certification, risk assessments, training, contingency planning, statement of intent with the Police, and managements’ knowledge of the ‘Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds’.