Sparks fly at the city council over fireworks problem
CLAIMS THAT CABINET HAS NOT TAKEN ACTION
A ROW has broken out at Derby City Council over the effect of fireworks on residents and pets.
Opposition members to Derby’s Conservative leadership group have questioned what the council’s cabinet has done since a Reform Derby fireworks motion was passed last year on the subject.
The sparky debate came after a new motion relating to “noiseless fireworks” was submitted at a recent full meeting of the city council.
The motion, proposed by Conservative councillor Tracey Pearce, urged the cabinet to explore how fireworks that didn’t annoy people and pets could be sold by retailers in Derby to help protect animals that suffer from fireworks events and war veterans, as well as other vulnerable people.
Specifically, it called on the cabinet to write to and urge the Government “to adopt ‘noiseless’ fireworks as a standard for distribution and retail sale to the general public” and to “encourage local suppliers of fireworks to stock ‘noiseless’ fireworks for public sale and display”.
In November 2020, a motion proposed by Reform Derby councillor John Evans was passed which also raised concerns about the welfare of people and animals over loud fireworks.
It called for the council to act in “reducing the maximum noise level of fireworks sold to the public, ensuring they are labelled accurately” and “tightening restrictions on the sale of fireworks”.
Reform Derby leader Alan Graves criticised the council and said the motion was the Conservative group playing “party politics” as he questioned the difference between the two motions.
Councillor Graves said: “Is this not the same party in control now than it was last year? Therefore, I am wondering how this motion is different to Reform Derby’s motion which was passed last year.
“Playing party politics with a council agenda is a very sad indictment by this current administration.
“What this motion highlights is that the cabinet has ignored, overlooked and dismissed the motion brought to this council back in November 2020.”
Labour councillor Martin Repton and Liberal Democrat councillor Mike Carr also called into question the council’s actions over the past year.
But city council cabinet member Jonathan Smale hit back, saying the council had acted since the motion was carried last year and the new motion was to “strengthen” its action on fireworks altogether.
Councillor Smale said: “The motion that was passed 12 months ago absolutely still stands now and we still support that. The council has been implementing it and trying to work with local organisations. Our social media has been raising awareness. This motion is just complementing what councillor Evans proposed.
“All we want to do is to strengthen it by including a more diverse range of noiseless fireworks.”
The cabinet has ignored, overlooked and dismissed the motion brought to this council back in November 2020. Alan Graves