The council is unable to grant permission for the use of inflatables, including bouncy castles, on its own land. This position has been adopted because the council does not have suitably qualified officers or resources to undertake the level of supervision required and considers that it cannot delegate this responsibility to external operators without introducing significant risk.
Where a community centre is directly managed by the council, the council's restrictions on inflatables could apply and should be reflected within the venue's hire terms and conditions.
However, many community centres that are council-owned are independently managed (by community associations, charities, trusts, management committees and others). In these circumstances, the organisation responsible for managing the centre may have its own policy regarding inflatables and bouncy castles. Any decision to permit their use would be subject to the venue operator's risk management arrangements, insurance requirements, and hire conditions.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance for inflatable play equipment requires appropriate inspection, testing, supervision, risk assessment, and adherence to safe operating conditions. Equipment should normally hold valid Professional Inflatable Play Association (PIPA) or Amusement Device Inspection Procedures Scheme (ADIPS) certification where applicable, and operators must comply with manufacturer instructions and wind-speed limitations.