Garden birthday party banned by councillors over coronavirus fears
Plans for a birthday party with 21 guests and cocktails have been cancelled after councillors in the Midlands ruled the event on Sunday could not go ahead.
A Birmingham City Council licensing sub-committee met this week to hear concerns from environmental health officers about the plan to hold a private party in Sutton Coldfield.
Mobile bar business the Vintage Van Company had submitted a temporary event notice, outlining plans to serve cocktails to the guests on the afternoon of August 2 at Ashfurlong Crescent.
The owner of the business said the guests came from three households, two of which were forming a support bubble.
She said measures would be taken to minimise risk, such as a one-way system, staggered arrival times and pre-payment to avoid money changing hands for drinks on the day.
But an officer said he did not think the Government guidance around preventing the spread of Covid-19 could be followed in the garden space where the party was planned.
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The officer suggested that although the owner of the bar business would be responsible for implementing the Covid-19 rules, he believed there was a possibility the householder “won’t want to comply”.
Councillors also heard doubt from the officer as to whether the plan for staggering arrival times would be enforced.
The householder hoping to host the party did not attend the meeting.
The sub-committee has now issued a counter notice, to prevent the event from taking place.
The decision notice from the sub-committee states: “Although due regard was given to the applicant’s representation, the sub-committee was not confident that the proposed event could run safely, or that the applicant could overcome the concerns raised relating to the official guidance, in light of evidence presented by the responsible authority attending the meeting, namely environmental health.
“The sub-committee was satisfied that on the balance of probabilities there would be a risk to the public safety objective if the proposed event went ahead, as it was likely that the event would not uphold the Covid-19 guidance.
“The sub-committee therefore determined that the correct course was to issue a counter notice.”
The latest rules on meetings from the Government state people may only meet up to six others from different households outside.
Households with one single adult are allowed to form a “support bubble” with another household, and it is also permitted for people to meet in a group of two households, indoors or outdoors.
