Lib Dem Deputy Leader Shows his Support for Southport

SIMON Hughes MP, the Liberal Democrat national Deputy Leader, showed his support for Southport Lib Dems last Friday, when he attended a special dinner organized by Councillor Fred Weavers at the Bold Hotel on Southport’s Lord Street. Commending Southport, the Lib-Dem Deputy leader said:- “Southport is a charming town. It’s a pleasure to be able to visit here and meet with local people. It’s obvious that residents have great pride in this town and it has been very enjoyable and interesting to hear their views.”

Mr. Hughes congratulated local Lib Dem councillors on their efforts, acknowledging their:- “tireless efforts on behalf of residents and local business’ in Southport.” The dinner, attended by Southport’s Member of Parliament John Pugh, many local Lib Dem Councillors together with dozens of Southport residents. It was the latest event the Liberal Democrats have introduced to try to remove barriers from the public, allowing local residents a voice within a national political framework.  Assuring local Councillors that their constituents views would be heard, the Deputy Lib Dem leader offered his support to new Lib Dem candidates standing in the coming May elections. Tony Dawson, (Dukes Ward) Lauren Keith (Cambridge Ward) and Nigel Ashton (Meols Ward) all attended the dinner. Residents can contact Tony and Lauren by email  regarding any issues they may have.

"Your guide to organising a street party or fete" A Foreword by Eric Pickles

"STREET parties and fetes are a traditional part of community life; they are a simple way for us to get to know our neighbours and meet members of our community. We want to make it easier for you to hold these sorts of local events, without having to plough through mountains of forms and red tape. So we have produced this simple step by step guide to how to hold a community event in your local area. It includes one simple form for you to use to let your local authority know about your plans, so you can get on with the real work of organising a fun event.  Good luck."

Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

So what sort of events does this apply to?

This is about the sort of street parties and fetes that groups of residents get together to arrange for their neighbours. The main differences between a small street party and fetes and larger public events are listed below:-

Larger public events...

► Anyone can attend
► Licence usually needed
► Insurance needed
► Risk assessment common
► Professional/skilled organisers
► External publicity (such as in newspapers)

Street parties and fetes...

► No licences normally necessary, if music incidental and no selling is involved
► No formal risk assessment needed
► Self-organised
► For residents/neighbours only
► Publicity only to residents

Organising small, private street parties and fetes is very simple and generally does not include activities that need a licence, such as selling alcohol or providing certain types of entertainment. If you want to have a pay bar or intend to provide entertainment to the wider public, or charge to raise money for your event, you will need a Temporary Event Notice which is a type of temporary licence and costs £21. Similarly, larger public events attracting more people will require a different process. If you need a Temporary Events Notice or would like to hold a larger public event, please contact your council for further information and advice.

It’s that simple...  If you would like to hold a street party or fete, you can use the form below to let your council know about your plans. Alternatively you could go to your council’s website to see if they have their own form.

The number one tip for holding a party is to plan early, think about what you want to achieve and get in touch with your council at least 4 to 6 weeks in advance. A good first point of contact will be your council’s events or communities team. More helpful tips, advice and support for organising a successful event can be found on the Streets Alive website  and The Big Lunch website. Do check them out, they’re great.