Issue details

The Council supports the Government’s COVID-19 Roadmap as we move from national lockdown to a position where businesses can recommence trading and events take place. The proposed Government Roadmap, which provides an indicative date of when each step is reached is below. This is dependent upon a range of factors, including further Government Guidance and Regulations at the time, as well as local factors, including COVID-19 infection rates and the wider public health impact on the Borough.
The majority of events are considered not essential, but the Council would like to facilitate activities for public wellbeing, as well as a means to stimulate the local economy. However, public safety is the highest priority for the Council at all times and shall be the overriding consideration.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic and ongoing threat to public health, the Council must take into consideration a range of additional matters and therefore the extra time that is required by Council Officers and Statutory Partners when assessing event safety and public health. This needs to be balanced against additional risks, evolving Government Guidance, the possibility of imposed restrictions without notice, moving lockdown dates and enhanced mitigating measures that may be required. For example, impromptu crowds, surge and dispersal of the same,
Coupled with a rising demand for the use of outdoor space for events, alongside a sudden influx of requests to the Council, and significant demand from the public, it is necessary to proactively manage the pressure on Council and Partner Agency resources.
It is not possible for the Council to invest the amount of time and resources that has previously been afforded in the past to help event organisers reach the minimum standards required to ensure that an event is conducted safely.
Therefore the onus to provide the Council and other agencies with the right information at the right time, in a format that is easy to interpret and which allows a full and proper assessment, rests with the person(s) responsible for any proposed events.