Issue - meetings

By Councillor Staniforth – Fireworks

“Council:

1)         Notes that fireworks, responsibly?used in a community setting, are a well?established part of civic events but equally recognises the distress they can cause for vulnerable people, pets and wildlife; the debris left by widespread use of fireworks and the greater risk of dangerous or anti?social behaviour where mis?used; and, further, that if all public firework displays within the city were to be advertised locally in advance of the event, allowing residents to take precautions for animals and vulnerable people, this would mitigate some of the negative impacts.

2)         Notes that a recent YouGov survey, commissioned by the Scottish government, found that 71% of respondents supported tighter controls on the sale of fireworks.

3)         Requests that the convener of the Transport and Environment Committee write to the Scottish and UK Governments urging them to introduce legislation to limit the maximum noise level of fireworks sold to the public for private displays to 90dbs.

4)         Agrees for a report to the Regulatory Committee that addresses the following:

?           How the City of Edinburgh Council can require all public firework displays within the city to be advertised locally in advance of the event, allowing residents to take precautions for their animals and vulnerable people.

?           How the City of Edinburgh Council will 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.

?           How the City of Edinburgh can ensure that fireworks are only supplied to, and remain in the hands of, responsible adults.

?           That the City of Edinburgh Council encourage local suppliers of fireworks to stock ‘quieter’ fireworks for public display.”