SEPTEMBER | FEATURE
“Some local councils have disbanded their events and
licensing teams, in order to use the staff elsewhere.”
term relationships with councils they work
with.”
While it is understandable that some
councils are erring on the side of caution, a
clear strategy for allowing outdoor events
to reopen safely can help kickstart regional
economies, bringing benefits for all. “I
believe that councils banning events are
often losing sight of the benefits events
bring,” says Winship.
“Outdoor events could be playing a major
role in getting British businesses back on
their feet by helping to get people out of
their homes and into shops and high streets.
I think the government recognises this but
some local authorities are too risk averse
and inward-focused.”
License to fill
One solution to the communication
problems happening between event
organisers and local councils could be to
simplify the process of licensing events.
Even before Covid-19, licensing involved
an excessive amount of bureaucracy
and paperwork. In the wake of the virus,
removing some of the hoops that organisers
must jump through would be a simple
way for local and national government to
kickstart the economy using events.
Last year, Access All Areas commissioned
some research into the economic impact
of outdoor events for local councils. The
Political Economy of Events 2030, written
by Dr James Woudhuysen, concluded that
the risks posed by events were often being
mis-represented or exaggerated and that by
simplifying event licensing, the UK could
create a more dynamic and financially
prosperous events sector.
The 2003 Licensing Act runs to 75,000
words, and the Premises Licence Application
forms that event organisers must fill in to
meet its requirements are intimidating.
Event organisers can sometimes wait six
months for a hearing, and this is after
applications have been approved by a gamut
of public authorities including planning,
public health, fire safety and more.
Sarah Clover, a Barrister at Kings
Chambers, says councils need to see the
bigger picture on licensing: “The only
representations that councillors are
likely to see are the negative ones. If they
have concerns about these, the police,
environmental health officers or local
residents are highly likely to write in to the
licensing authority.
“To councillors, then, it can look like
there’s a mountain of resistance to the event
in question. Yet there may be significantly
more people – a silent majority – who
enthusiastically support the event but aren’t
inclined to write in and say so.”
Philip Kolvin QC, head of Cornerstone
Barristers, is currently working with
members of the Night Time Industries
Association and the Financial Conduct
Authority on a landmark legal case
against insurers. He says, “Forwardthinking
administrations know that
well-managed events can underline the
values of a community, build social cohesion,
attract investment, and set the tone for
regeneration.”
Regeneration is precisely what both the
events sector and the UK’s many struggling
local business need at the moment. If local
councils can give struggling or prospective
event organisers a helping hand, both will
see the benefits in the months to come.
If councils continue to misinterpret
guidance, or are not transparent in dealing
with those trying to safely stage whatever
outdoor events they can, the road to
recovery will be a longer one.
Sarah Clover
Philip Kolvin
Jim Winship
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