Agenda item

Motion - Fireworks

In line with the RSPCA campaign this council agrees to :

  • ?Encourage providers of public firework displays, notified through the Council’s SAG process, to be advertised in advance of the event; allowing residents to take precautions for their animals and vulnerable people 
  • Promote a public awareness campaign at relevant points in the year about the impact of fireworks on animal welfare and vulnerable people – including the precautions that can be taken to mitigate risks
  •  Write to the UK Government urging them to introduce legislation to limit the maximum noise level of fireworks to 90dB for those sold to the public for private displays 
  • Commit to not using fireworks at Swale Borough Council events.

 

Proposed by: Councillor Hannah Perkin

Seconded by:  Councillor Mike Baldock

Minutes:

Councillor Hannah Perkin proposed the motion as set out on the Agenda. She highlighted the damage that unexpected fireworks could cause to animals and vulnerable people. She referred to responsibilities to animals under the UK Animal Welfare Act 2019/2020 and she said that millions of animals were affected by unplanned fireworks every year, and she gave examples. Councillor Perkin spoke about the air quality impact of fireworks and the effect on those suffering with mental health issues.

 

In seconding the proposal, Councillor Mike Baldock reserved his right to speak.

 

The Leader of the opposition thanked Councillor Perkin for bringing the motion forward. He explained that a similar motion was drafted for a previous Council meeting from his group, but under advice it was withdrawn as it was submitted during the pre-election period for the General Election in December 2019. Councillor James Hunt, who submitted the previous motion in 2019, proposed amendments to the motion as set out on the Agenda with changes that reflected the standard wording put forward by the RSPCA. Councillor Baldock commented that Councillor Perkin’s original motion was as suggested by the RSPCA but that advice had been received from the Monitoring Officer to make amendments to it. The Principal Solicitor clarified that the advice given to Councillor Perkin to change the original motion was given because requiring public displays within the local authority boundary to be advertised in advance could not be enforced by the Council, and the suggestion was that the Safety Advisory Group (SAG) process would be a way in which the Council could condition and encourage this. She added that to encourage local suppliers of fireworks to stock quieter fireworks could be more effectively enforced by Kent Trading Standards who were responsible for relevant Regulations.

 

In the discussion that followed, Councillor Hunt withdrew his amendment and put forward an alternative amendment which was seconded by Councillor Baldock:

 

This Council resolves:

 

To require all public firework displays notified through the Council’s Safety Advisory Group process and within the local authority boundaries to be advertised in advance of the event, allowing residents to take precautions for their animals and vulnerable people

 

To actively promote a public awareness campaign about the impact of fireworks on animal welfare and vulnerable people – including the precautions that can be taken to mitigate risks

 

To write to the UK government urging them to introduce legislation to limit the maximum noise level of fireworks to 90dB for those sold to the public for private displays

 

To encourage local suppliers of fireworks to stock ‘quieter’ fireworks for public display.

 

Members raised points including:

 

·        The intention should not be to ban fireworks but to properly manage them so that residents knew in advance and could take precautions;

·        the Council needed to get the balance of safety and control without spoiling enjoyment;

·        SBC events should ban fireworks;

·        did not support a ban on fireworks at SBC events as provided joy to many, but should consider quieter fireworks or alternatives such as drones;

·        SBC previously agreed to ban sky lanterns on SBC licenced land;

·        support for original motion; and

·        support for amended motion.

 

Councillor Perkin, the proposer of the original motion said that she would like to see a commitment from SBC to not using fireworks at their events. She said that she accepted that residents had choices, but SBC should be discouraging the use of fireworks.

 

On being put the vote, the amended motion was agreed.

 

Members then voted on the amended motion which was agreed unanimously.

 

Resolved:

 

That this Council:

 

(1)  Requires all public firework displays notified through the Council’s Safety Advisory Group process and within the local authority boundaries to be advertised in advance of the event, allowing residents to take precautions for their animals and vulnerable people.

 

(2) Actively promote a public awareness campaign about the impact of fireworks on animal welfare and vulnerable people – including the precautions that can be taken to mitigate risks.

 

(3)  Writes to the UK government urging them to introduce legislation to limit the maximum noise level of fireworks to 90dB for those sold to the public for private displays.

 

(4) Encourages local suppliers of fireworks to stock ‘quieter’ fireworks for public display.