Holding an event in the city during coronavirus

Latest government guidance allows outdoor events which are organised by charities, businesses and public bodies as long as appropriate risk assessments are in place and COVID-secure guidelines are followed.

This means ensuring that all reasonable measures to protect against transmission of coronavirus have been taken into account. The guidance on Leicester’s local restrictions is continually changing, but up to date information can be found at GOV.UK.

Further useful information:

• Government COVID-19 guidance for mass gatherings
• Health and Safety Executive’s general COVID-19 guidance
• The Event Industry Forum page. Register for access to the forum’s latest COVID-19 event guidance.
• Guidance for music festivals

You don’t need our permission to hold an event if it is not on council-owned land or public highway. As the event organiser, it is your responsibility to decide if an event goes ahead once you have considered all appropriate advice, guidance and the information detailed on this page.

Whilst we don’t have general powers to stop events from taking place, we may be required to take action if concerns are raised in relation to specific areas that we do have power over. These include noise control, anti-social behaviour, health and safety breaches, licensing and alcohol sales or food safety, for example.

Leicester City Council and Leicestershire Police are responsible for enforcing the laws relating to COVID-19 breaches. Full information about reporting potential breaches is available on the police website.

Where significant COVID-19 risks or breaches are identified, the council can issue a direction to event organisers, specifying actions that must be taken. We can also impose prohibitions if necessary.

Please note: if you have attended an event and want to make a complaint about the way it was managed, or report breaches such as social distancing not being adhered to, you must do so directly to the event organiser. If you are still concerned, you can make a report to Leicestershire Police on 101, and/or the council at c19business@leicester.gov.uk.

To tell us about your event, go to our booking a park or public space page or email festivals@leicester.gov.uk.

We will let you know if we need more information from you, or if we have any concerns about your plans. If you have any queries, send us a message online or call 0116 454 3600.

If you are looking to hold an outdoor event on a public highway, park or open space, your plan must satisfy our normal booking requirements, as well as being consistent with current COVID-related local and national guidance and legislation.

We need to be sure that your event does not present a potential significant threat to public health, in accordance with the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (No. 3) Regulations 2020. Therefore, you must provide satisfactory responses to the following questions:

• Have you completed a risk assessment which includes specific consideration of measures to ensure the event is COVID-secure?
• What steps will you take to regulate the number and mix of attendees to ensure your event adheres to relevant current regulations and guidance? For example: ticketed entry, allotted times, security, communications
• What steps will you take to manage behaviour on site and to ensure appropriate social distancing is adhered to? For example: signage, segregated areas, stewards
• What queue management arrangements will be in place?
• What steps will you take to ensure appropriate hygiene measures are in place? For example: hand hygiene, food hygiene, toilet cleansing and use
• What cleaning regime will be in place between customer visits?
• How will you address unsuitable or unsafe behaviour?
• What arrangements will be in place for the disposal of any clinical or contaminated waste, including face masks and coverings?
• Are the event’s first aid providers aware of COVID-19 guidance, particularly in relation to PPE?
• How will you ensure that staff at the event implement and follow the risk assessment and measures?
• If appropriate, what arrangements will be in place to record contact details, in accordance with track and trace requirements, for anyone attending or working at your event?
• How will you ensure that you keep up to date with any local lockdown restrictions, and how will your event planning prepare for the effect of local lockdowns? This could include the possible need to restrict attendance by people living or working in an affected area
• Who will not be allowed to enter? For example: vulnerable people, anyone with COVID-19 symptoms

Your proposal will be considered by the council’s events safety advisory group with advice where required from our public health team. If necessary, we may request further information from you. We may also convene a meeting involving relevant council services and other agencies, such as the police.

If we consider your proposed event to be a potential significant threat to public health, we may need to impose restrictions (make a direction) under Regulation 3 of the COVID-19 regulations.

In order to make a direction under these regulations, we need to be satisfied that the following three conditions are met:

• that giving a direction responds to a serious and imminent threat to public health,
• that the direction is necessary for the purpose of preventing, protecting against, controlling or providing a public health response to the incidence or spread of infection by coronavirus in the local authority’s area, and
• that the prohibitions, requirements or restrictions imposed by the direction are a proportionate means of achieving that purpose.