44. Where local Authorities have a Safety Advisory Group (SAG) they may require larger events needing a licence to provide them with a risk assessment and often meet with them to discuss safety issues. However, only some activities require licenses, so even some very large adventure sport events do not require any licenses.
45. Unless a small adventure sport event is selling alcohol, it is unlikely to require formal licensing and, therefore, to be called to a SAG meeting. In most cases, the Local Authority’s Safety Advisory Group is unaware that these smaller events are even taking place. Some venues already have a premises license in place for alcohol sales which the event may be able operate under without requiring additional consent.
46. The pandemic has resulted in even small events being asked to submit a COVID-19 risk assessment to the local public health authority describing how the event can take place safely and will be compliant with location regulations.
47. A Safety Advisory Group is not a legal entity and, therefore, cannot attach conditions to a license (Licensing Act 2003 England and Wales) once it has been issued by a licensing authority. Likewise, a licensing authority cannot state that an event must gain consent from a Safety Advisory Group as part of their licensing conditions.
48. The SAG can make recommendations and suggestions that are usually helpful and based on considerable experience of other events. Liaising with a SAG provides an opportunity for an organiser to get all the local authorities and statutory services into one room at one time.
49. Ignoring a SAG’s advice is not recommended. However, as these groups tend to deal largely with mainstream events and festivals, adventure sports event organisers may need to explain their activity and the safety steps they are taking, bearing in mind that the audience is likely to be more risk adverse than the organiser.
50. The Purple Guide SAG chapter provides more detailed information about working with a Safety Advisory Group.