“Chairman
Fireworks are used by people throughout the year to mark different events. While they can bring much enjoyment to some people, they can be a source of fear and distress for many animals (including pet animals, farm livestock and wildlife). Animals affected not only suffer psychological distress but can also cause themselves injuries – sometimes very serious ones – as they attempt to run away or hide from the noise. Debris produced by fireworks, if found on the ground, can also pose a hazard to animals as well as littering the countryside.
The RSPCA 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. Although there has been research and is some evidence of distress being caused further research is needed to properly understand the impact of noise on animals and things that can be done to improve the situation for animals and people.
The RSPCA believes that a licensing system would help with better enforcement of the law by allowing enforcement bodies to know where licensed events are being held so they can focus on locations and incidents elsewhere.
I would ask Council 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 and 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.
I so move
Councillor Anne Welburn”
Minutes:
Councillor Anne Welburn submitted the following Motion: -
“Chairman
Fireworks are used by people throughout the year to mark different events. While they can bring much enjoyment to some people, they can be a source of fear and distress for many animals (including pet animals, farm livestock and wildlife). Animals affected not only suffer psychological distress but can also cause themselves injuries – sometimes very serious ones – as they attempt to run away or hide from the noise. Debris produced by fireworks, if found on the ground, can also pose a hazard to animals as well as littering the countryside.
The RSPCA 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. Although there has been research and is some evidence of distress being caused further research is needed to properly understand the impact of noise on animals and things that can be done to improve the situation for animals and people.
The RSPCA believes that a licensing system would help with better enforcement of the law by allowing enforcement bodies to know where licensed events are being held so they can focus on locations and incidents elsewhere.
I would ask Council 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 and 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.
I so move
Councillor Anne Welburn”
The motion as submitted was duly seconded.
The Leader of the Council addressed the Chamber and advised that over the Christmas period he had received multiple communications, including from NFU, of a similar vein regarding the use of sky lanterns.
The NFU had noted that the releasing of sky lanterns may appear an impressive sight, but they could be dangerous.
They considered sky lanterns were unpredictable as you cannot control where they land.
The main dangers include:
· causing fires on an industrial scale; destroying acres of crops, farm buildings and stored food supplies
· killing or injuring farm animals
· causing significant litter problems
· being mistaken for distress flares
On the basis of this the Leader proposed the following amendment : -
“that the Council ban the release of sky lanterns from council owned or operated sites in West Lindsey and include information about the dangers of sky lanterns as part our public awareness campaign”
The amendment was duly seconded and on being put to the vote the amendment was carried.
Members sought indication whether in fact the Council could licence firework events as suggested by the RSPCA. It was noted that currently there were no licensing regulations covering firework displays, however those serving alcohol were licensed, under the licensing regime but only to the extent of the sale and consumption of alcohol.
Councillor Bunney addressed Council and felt it important that the term “vulnerable people” clearly extended to include the elderly and those with learning difficulties for example, as these groups too could find the use of fireworks distressing. He also considered the motion should be extended to not just address the use of fireworks but also the sale of them, and therefore offered a further amendment, namely: -
“suppliers of Fireworks across the District will be encouraged and required to separate and label quieter fireworks from louder ones, allowing customers to choose their purchases with animal and people safety in mind. In addition to help with the responsible use and possession of fireworks all retailers are required to apply challenge 25 legislation to the sale of fireworks, as would be the case with alcohol”.
This further amendment was seconded, however the Monitoring Officer, addressed the meeting to advise that the sale of fireworks was dealt with by Trading Standards and therefore a function of the County Council. The Council was not able to pass a motion relating to the operation of a County Council function. The Council could encourage, or lobby but it could not pass a motion which would require enforcement of this function, as it was not within its powers.
The Leader addressed Council and gave his assurance that the term vulnerable people was widely accepted as including such groups as Councillor Bunney had suggested. He further indicated that should Councillor Bunney wish to further amend his amendment to make it incumbent on the Leader to write to County Council regarding the recommendations he had earlier stated, he would be supportive of such action.
Councillor Bunney indicated he was happy with the proposal that the Leader write to the County Council to lobby for the changes his early amendment had stipulated and the revised amendment was seconded.
Following much debate, the motion as, amended, including the banning of sky lanterns and the lobbying of the County Council regarding the sale of fireworks, as detailed above, having been moved and seconded was ACCEPTED.