If you operate a sports ground in England, Scotland or Wales which is not designated as requiring a safety certificate, you'll 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
(To be eligible for a general safety certificate, you must be the person responsible for the management of the ground.) - 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
(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.)
One certificate may cover more than one stand.
You must comply with any conditions attached to a certificate.
Applicants must provide requested information and plans to the local authority within the time specified. If it is not provided within the permitted time the application will be deemed to have been withdrawn.
Middlesbrough Council will determine if any stand in their area is a regulated stand. If it is determined to be regulated stand, 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.
If the 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.
Middlesbrough Council must send a copy of an application for a safety certificate to the chief police officer of the area, the fire and rescue authority if they are not that authority and the building authority if they are not that authority. Each of these bodies must be consulted about the terms and conditions to be included in a certificate, and any proposed amendment, replacement or transfer.
If an application is made to transfer a certificate, the council must determine whether 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.