In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 10 to consider motions on notice from Members. Motions must be received in writing or by email to the Monitoring Officer by 12 noon seven clear working days before the meeting.
(a) Motion proposed by Councillor Pam Windley and seconded by Councillor Ross Shipman
“North East Derbyshire District Council believes the law is failing as it does not prevent or sufficiently reduce the risk of fireworks causing distress, injury or anxiety to people, as well as death, injury or distress to animals.
The Council believes that further research is needed to properly understand the impact of noise on animals and vulnerable people, and a number of things can be done to improve the situation for animals and people by:-
· Introducing a limit on the public use of fireworks on or close to specific dates and times;
· Tightening restrictions on the sale of fireworks in the run up to Bonfire Night;
· Reducing the maximum noise level of fireworks sold to the public, ensuring they are labelled accurately;
· Licensing all public firework displays – and ensuring displays are better advertised to the public.
This Council resolves:-
· To require all public firework displays 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 encourage local suppliers of fireworks to stock “quieter” fireworks for public display”.
Minutes:
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 10 to consider Motions on notice from Members. Motions must be received in writing or by email to the Monitoring Officer by 12 noon seven clear working days before the meeting.
Motion proposed by Councillor P Windley and seconded by Councillor R Shipman
“North East Derbyshire District Council believes the law is failing as it does not prevent or sufficiently reduce the risk of fireworks causing distress, injury or anxiety to people, as well as death, injury or distress to animals.
The Council believes that further research is needed to properly understand the impact of noise on animals and vulnerable people, and a number of things can be done to improve the situation for animals and people by:-
· Introducing a limit on the public use of fireworks on or close to specific dates and times;
· Tightening restrictions on the sale of fireworks in the run up to Bonfire Night;
· Reducing the maximum noise level of fireworks sold to the public, ensuring they are labelled accurately;
· Licensing all public firework displays – and ensuring displays are better advertised to the public.
This Council resolves:-
· To require all public firework displays 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 encourage local suppliers of fireworks to stock “quieter” fireworks for public display”.
The motion was moved by Councillor R Shipman and seconded by Councillor P Windley. Councillor P Windley reserved the right to speak.
As mover of the motion, Councillor R Shipman stated that this was an issue flagged up to him by one of his ward residents. He explained that the motion sought to make provisions for people (such as those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and animals that might be at risk at times when loud fireworks were let off. He believed the proposals in the motion could lead to a culture change in North East Derbyshire District in terms of firework noise.
Councillor R Shipman acknowledged that the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change had recently presented a report to Cabinet on the same subject.
The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change spoke on the motion. She thanked Councillor R Shipman for proposing a motion about an issue she agreed was very important, particularly since it was a subject many residents had complained about and an RSPCA campaign had been underway to protect animal welfare when using fireworks. She added that the vast majority of firework users were using them responsibly, so she felt it was a delicate balance between protecting people and animals, but not being too strict.
The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change explained that the RSCPA’s campaign had set out a model motion specifically for Councillors to submit to Council meetings, and the motion from Councillor R Shipman appeared to be based more around national legislation, which the Council would have no power over. She added that the Government already had a number of legal safeguards in place to protect people and animals, such as buying restrictions, noise limits and curfews. She felt that the issue was more appropriate for Councils to tackle in other practical ways, which was the purpose behind the report to Cabinet mentioned by Councillor R Shipman.
The report in question was presented to Cabinet and approved. It proposed that the Council would:
(1) Launch a firework/bonfire display registration scheme and code of conduct. This would be launched in the run-up to bonfire night 2020, and would introduce a voluntary registration scheme and code of conduct to address noise and safety concerns. This would mean that any residents with concerns would be given prior warning of any displays.
(2) Publicise the launch of the above scheme, to raise awareness of safety concerns and highlight the impact displays could have on people and animals. This would tell display owners of the positive actions they can undertake to reduce impacts on residents.
(3) Carry out consultation with residents about their thoughts on the report’s proposals, to strike the balance between protecting people and animals whilst still allowing some displays. This point was not in the report but did get approved by Cabinet as an addition.
Members were informed that the report approved by Cabinet was only the initial plan, and since then, the Council had liaised with the national and local RSCPA about other steps the Council could take, such as reducing maximum noise levels.
The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change believed that with all of this in mind, the motion submitted by Councillor R Shipman was unnecessary.
Councillor N Barker spoke on the motion, and he agreed it was an important subject, but he was satisfied it was being addressed internally as detailed by the Portfolio Holder.
Councillor J Lilley spoke on the motion. He relayed a complaint from one of his residents about the damage fireworks had done to their vehicle, so he felt it was important to consider the damage fireworks could cause to vehicles and buildings as well as people and animals.
Councillor D Hancock spoke on the motion, and he hoped that the work being done by Cabinet included the impact fireworks could have on the mental health of residents.
Councillor R Shipman stated that as long as the Cabinet’s work included the concerns from Councillor J Lilley and Councillor D Hancock about property/vehicle damage and mental health, he and Councillor P Windley were satisfied to withdraw the motion after hearing the ongoing work outlined by the Portfolio Holder.
The motion was withdrawn by the mover Councillor R Shipman and the seconder Councillor P Windley.