Temporary event notice

If you wish to hold a temporary event in England or Wales, the Licensing Authority must receive your standard temporary event notice (TEN) no later than ten clear working days before the event,  or your late temporary event notice no later than five clear working days before the event. This does not include the day on which the authority receives your notice, or the day of the event. If the premises, where the event is to be held is in an area governed by two or more local authorities notice must be given to each.

Unless you submit an electronic application the Police and Environmental Health must also be served a copy of your notice and receive it no later than ten clear working days before the event for a standard TEN or five clear working days for a late TEN. 

Further information on Temporary Event Notices can be found in the Secretary of States Guidance.

Regulation summary

Telford & Wrekin Council

View the Statement of Licensing Policy.

Application evaluation process

Any premise or outdoor area can give a Temporary Event Notice. It does not have to be a purpose built structure.

Notices should be made to the Licensing Authority either in writing or via our online application system at least ten working days for a standard TEN or five working days for a late TEN before the date of the event. This does not include the date the Licensing Authority received the notice, or the date of the event.

A standard notice given later than ten working days or a late notice given later than five working days before the event to which it relates will be returned as void and the activities described in it will not be authorised.

Two copies of the notice should be submitted and a statutory fee is payable upon application. View the Licensing Act 2003 fees.

The Licensing Authority will acknowledge receipt of the notice by giving a notice to the premises user before the end of the first working day following the day it was received or before the end of the second working day if the day the notice was received is not a working day.

Unless an application has been submitted electronically, the premises user must also serve a copy of the notice to the Chief Officer of Police at Licensing, Malinsgate Police Station, Telford, TF3 4HW and a copy to the Council's Environmental Health Office, Darby House, Lawn Central, Telford, TF3 4JA,  no later than ten working days before the event takes place for a standard TEN and no later than five working days for a late TEN.

The Chief Police Officer or Environmental Health Officer who receives a notice and believes that the event would undermine one of the Licensing objectives can serve an objection notice on the Licensing Authority and the premises user. This notice must be served within 3 working days from the receipt of the temporary event notice.

If the objection is to a standard TEN the Licensing Authority must hold a hearing. They may issue a counter notice to the temporary event notice if it considers it necessary for the promotion of the licensing objectives. A decision must be made at least 24 hours before the beginning of the event.

A Chief Police Officer or Environmental Health Officer may modify the TEN with the consent of the premises user. In such a case an objection notice will be deemed to have been withdrawn.

The Licensing Authority may issue a notice in relation to its decision to impose conditions on a standard temporary event notice.

If there is an objection from either the police or local authority exercising environmental health functions to a late TEN, the event will not go ahead and a counter notice will be issued.

Counter notices will be issued by the Licensing Authority if the number of permitted TENs has been exceeded.

Will tacit consent apply?

Yes. This means that you will be able to act as though your application is granted if you have not heard from the local authority by the end of the target completion period.

Target completion period

A Temporary Event Notice must be acknowledged and returned to the person who has given the notice within two working days of receipt of the application.

Redress

Failed Application Redress

Please contact the council in the first instance, using the contact details above.

If you wish to appeal against a decision, you may do so to a Magistrates' court within 21 days of the decision, but an appeal must not be brought later than five working days before the day of the planned event.

Consumer Complaint

If you are a customer of a premise, you should first contact the operator, preferably in writing, with proof of your complaint. If that does not work and if you are located in the UK, Consumer Direct will give you advice. From outside the UK, contact the UK European Consumer Centre.

Other Redress

Please contact us in the first instance.

If the Licensing Authority decides not to issue a counter notice in relation to an objection notice the chief police officer can appeal the decision to a Magistrates' court within 21 days of the decision, but an appeal must not be brought later than five working days before the day of the planned event.

If there is a concern about noise, pollution, etc please contact us in the first instance.

Public Registers or databases

For details on the public register please contact us. 

Trade Associations

• Visit the National Outdoor Events Association (NOEA) website.
• Visit the Society of Event Organisers (SEO) website.
• Visit the Event Supplier and Services Association (ESSA) website.

Last updated: 23/08/2023 12:20