stage structures over 0.6m

[astuartm]

Currently I am doing work for a local theatre in Scotland. The theatre which is owned by the council is being run by a local company who run most of the leisure facilities within the councils remit. The company involved insist on a £150 charge every time a bit of steel deck over 0.6m is used on the stage. They also are responsible for another venue which has bleacher seating. Every time that is pulled out the insist that a certificate be issued for £150. I am certain that this should not be the case, especially with the seating as this is a properly bought in piece of equipment. I am also almost sure that steel decking on a stage should be covered through risk assessment rather than this certification. The problem being that the company involved have no experience of theatre. I have worked in plenty of other venues where these charges are not even an issue. Do any other technicians know what the ruling is on this..or is this just a local council policy which is being wrongly interpreted, as I understand that this regulation is aimed more at outside venues. Thanks in advance..

[ImagineerTom]

This is not "law" - however when the company were employed by the council they agreed a set of "services" and corresponding charges for providing those services. Whilst you can try appealing to the good nature of the provision company they are unlikely to give up on charging these fees as their entire revenue model is based on charging fees for providing services and if someone in the council procurement department was stupid enough to let these charges be part of the contract then ultimately that is who you should be complaining to to make sure they don't make the same mistake next time the contract is out to tender.

[Brian]

...what the ruling is on this..or is this just a local council policy which is being wrongly interpreted, as I understand that this regulation is aimed more at outside venues.

 

There no such 'Regulation' so it must be a venue policy. Note that I've put Regulation in quotes to highlight that, as a word, it has a very specific meaning in law. You can be hauled before the courts for breaching a Regulation; you can't be done for breaching a policy.

 

It sounds like they either have a lease on the venue from the Council, or a contract to manage it on the Councils behalf. As venue managers though, they are quite within their rights to have a requirement for, and charge for, any bits of paper they want. I'd imagine it's simply written into the contract of hire.

[Dmills]

Section 89 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 requires that no person shall use or permit the use of a raised structure for seating or standing accommodation unless such use has been approved by the local authority.

 

I suspect that this is the origin of this charge, as getting the buildings inspector involved every time must have a cost (Mind you I suspect this is honoured mainly in the breech).

 

Regards, Dan.

[Calder]

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1982/45/section/89

 

C

[Andrew C]

Money; licence; print.

 

Re-arrange - that is all.

[Brian]

I stand corrected, there is a Law to cover this. Those crazy Scots and their wacky ideas. Although I love the fact that the same Law also regulates taxi fares and the licensing of sex shops. Looks like an Act solely written to raise money to me.

 

However, if does appear that to apply it to structures used on stage is stretching things a bit far and that it ought to be possible to get a 'warrant' to cover the seating.

[jexjexjex]

This wouldn't be a wee council somewhere north of Dundee?

 

(Been there, done that...) :huh:

 

Edit... Just re-read your post - definitley not here.

 

Had a similar problem a few years ago, but it got to the point, for some venues and some groups where the Coonsul Officer used to ask who was all involved...

 

"Och it's you lot again. You all know what your doing. It'll be fine..."

 

... and stopped turning up. He then retired and I don't think was ever replaced...

[bruce]

... or arrange for the bleachers seating to be assessed once, or annually, not every time it is extended.

[Stuart91]

In some circumstances, the difference between the spirit and letter of the law can cause conflict...

 

I heard a great story from a local staging supplier. They had put several truckloads of deck into a council-owned venue for a substantial production. The whole stage was inspected and signed off. Late in the afternoon, they get a call. The support act have decided that they would like a drum riser, so two more decks are delivered to make this happen.

 

The venue are insistent that the addition to the "structure" means that a new Section 89 inspection is required. The promoter of the gig, meantime, is livid at the very suggestion. By the letter of the law, the venue are correct. But a ~£250 inspection fee for a single drum riser seems more than a little heavy-handed.

[StevieR]

Yes, here in Scotland, Section 89 applies to all 'raised' platforms to which people will have access. It actually makes a lot of sense for larger structures such as outdoors stages, etc, and provides a second-level of checks by the local building control team or similar - something which is lacking in legislation in Englandshire. However, for smaller structures it does seem a litte heavy-handed. Saying that, what it is trying to prevent is people constructing platforms using inappropriate materials/methods and putting people at risk.

 

Now, the local authorities did appreciate that lower structures were less risky and so there is an 'unofficial' allowable height of 600mm before a Section 89 needs to be applied for.

 

Also, if you use a scaffolding firm to build your structure then no Section 89 is required as they are excempt from this legislation. I think a similar system should be considered for staging companies...

 

Steve

[Stuart91]

Also, if you use a scaffolding firm to build your structure then no Section 89 is required as they are excempt from this legislation. I think a similar system should be considered for staging companies...

 

I hadn't come across this before. Is there a list of "approved" scaffolding companies, or does anybody with "scaffolding" in the business name get away with it?