Safety certificates for regulated stands at sports grounds

Licence summary

If you operate a sports ground in England, Scotland or Wales which is not designated as requiring a safety certificate, you will still require a safety certificate for any covered stand that holds 500 or more spectators.

A safety certificate may be either:

a general safety certificate which covers the use of the stand for viewing an activity, or a number of activities, specified in the certificate for an indefinite period which starts on a specified date
a special safety certificate which covers the use of the stand for viewing a certain specified activity or activities on a certain specified occasion or occasions

One certificate may cover more than one stand - certificates for stands within Redcar and Cleveland are obtained from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.

You must comply with any conditions attached to a certificate.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for a general safety certificate, you must be the person responsible for the management of the ground.
To be eligible for a special safety certificate, you must be the person responsible for the activity to be viewed from the stand on that occasion.

Regulation summary

The Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act 1987 is the key piece of legislation in relation to sports grounds.

A summary of the regulation relating to this licence can be found on the legislation.gov.uk;

Application evaluation process

Applicants must provide requested information and plans to Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council within the time specified. If it is not provided within the permitted time the application will be deemed to have been withdrawn.
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council will determine if any stand in their area is a regulated stand. If it is determined that it is, a notice will be served on the person who appears would qualify to be issued with a general safety certificate. The notice will give details of their determination and the effects of the determination.
When Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council receives an application for a general safety certificate for a regulated stand at a sports ground we must determine if the stand is a regulated stand and if it if the applicant is the person who qualifies for the issue of the certificate. If we have already determined that the stand is a regulated stand and have not revoked this decision, we must decide if the applicant is the person who qualifies for the issue of the general safety certificate.
If Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council receives an application for a special safety certificate for a regulated stand they must determine if the applicant qualifies for the issue of a certificate.
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council must send a copy of an application for a safety certificate to the Chief Police Officer for Cleveland Police and the Fire and Rescue Authority. Each of these bodies must be consulted about the terms and conditions to be included in a certificate.
If an application is made to transfer a certificate Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council must determine if the person to whom the certificate is to be transferred, if they made an application, 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.
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council will send a copy of the application to the Chief Police Officer of Cleveland Police and the Fire and Rescue Authority and shall consult them about any proposed amendment, replacement or transfer.

Will tacit consent apply?

No. It is in the public interest that the authority must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from us within 28 days, please contact us using the contact details below.

How to apply

We aim to acknowledge your application within three working days. If you have applied online we will acknowledge your application via email.

Applications can be made online using the tools available through the links below:

Failed application redress and licence holder redress

Please contact the licencing team by email in relation to failed application and licence holder redress.

Any applicant who is refused a general 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 based on grounds other than a decision that they are not an eligible person.

Consumer complaint

We would always advise that in the event of complaint the first contact is made with the trader by you - preferably in the form a letter (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK, Consumer Direct will give you advice.

From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre

Other redress

Any person concerned with ensuring compliance with the terms and conditions of the safety certificate may appeal to the Magistrates' 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.

Trade associations

The Federation of Sports and Play Associations (FSPA) is the main trade association in relation to licence

Registers

Licensing registers are available to view, by prior arrangement, at the Council Offices. Please visit the Licensing Public Register page for more information.

Sports grounds

​​​Safety certificates for regulated stands at sports grounds