Public Events - Licensing issues
It is the policy of Dartford Borough Council to promote reasonably practical standards of public safety at all public events in the Borough and to encourage the well-being of the public at those public events.
To aid this, the Council working in partnership with selected agencies, has established the Safety Advisory Group (SAG).
If you are considering holding a public event, or you are going to be the organiser, then you need to complete the Dartford Borough Council Event Notification Form and then familiarise yourself with the contents of the Guidance for Organisers.
Download forms:
- Dartford Borough Council event notification form
- Risk assessment form
- Safety inspection checklist
- Accident report
An officer will review the information supplied via the Notification Form and contact you if there any licensing requirements or further details required.
Guidance for organizers:
- Introduction
- Pre-planning
- Detailed planning
- Final preparations
- After the event
- SAG main points of contact
- Risk assessment
- First aid and medical cover
- Insurance
- Road closures
- Contingency planning
- Food safety
- Licensing requirements
- Prevention of nuisances
- Employment of stewards
What is the Safety Advisory Group (SAG)?
The Dartford Borough Council Safety Advisory Group deals with issues of safety at public events.
The core members of the SAG comprises of senior officers from all the emergency services working in the Borough of Dartford (Police, Fire and Rescue Service and the Ambulance NHS Trust) and Council Services (Highways, Building Control, Environmental Health and Licensing).
When dealing with operational issues the Chair of the Group may also invite persons who can contribute to the discussion e.g. event organiser, licence holder, Civil Contingencies Unit, public transport providers, town centre manager, Primary Care Trust.
The SAG's main objectives are:
- To promote high levels of safety and welfare at events by giving advice;
- To promote good practice in safety and welfare planning for events; and
- To ensure that events cause minimal adverse impact.
Its purpose is to meet regularly to consider forthcoming events and to give advice to organisers. All comments and observation made by the SAG are always advisory.
It has no statutory compulsion and organisers are under no obligation to submit information, attend SAG meetings, or follow SAG's advice. However, each of the constituent members has their own regulatory role and may therefore exercise their powers independently.
A list of the main contacts can be found in Appendix 1 of the Guidance for Organisers. The SAG is not a licensing panel. More details about licences and consents can be found in the appendices.
What is an Event?
Typical examples of events that the SAG would look at include:
- Fetes, fairs etc.
- Open air
- Trade shows
- Sporting events
- Horse shows, agricultural shows, dog shows, car/caravan shows and similar
- Open air entertainment including concerts, music festivals, theatre, opera and historic re-enactments
- Firework displays
- Large scale company parties
- Processions, marches and carnivals
- Street parties
- Charity Stunts
- Religious events.
Risk Factors:
Entertainment events vary enormously in size, character and other factors such as hazards and risk. In the guidance the SAG has set out broad themes applicable to most situations.
Naturally this also means that organisers of very large or complex events may need to seek more specialist advice elsewhere.
Our hope is that through the guidance you will be put on the right track with some basic principles and point you in the right direction if you need specialist guidance.
Whether you are organising a village fete or a three day rock event with laser lighting, we hope the document will be of assistance to help you with proper planning and along with effective management to make your event safe.
