Perth and Kinross Council has voted to defer a decision on fireworks.
At the final council meeting of the year a special motion was put forward for PKC to “move away from” using fireworks to celebrate key events.
After an hour’s debate - in what was the final council meeting of the year on Wednesday, December 21 - council leader Grant Laing called for the decision to be deferred.
The SNP council leader - and several other councillors - were left confused by what was being proposed.
The motion was tabled by Labour councillor Brian Leishman and seconded by deputy SNP leader Eric Drysdale. It called for Perth and Kinross Council to “move away from the use of traditional fireworks”.
While Perth and Kinross Council does not organise the annual fireworks display on Bonfire Night at Perth’ s South Inch, it is on council land and funded by the council.
Earlier this year the Perth Common Good Fund Committee granted £22,094 to Perth and Strathearn 200 Round Table to organise the 2022 display at Perth’s South Inch.
Perth City North councillor Brian Leishman - who tabled the motion - clarified to councillors: “It is ultimately looking for Perth and Kinross Council not funding any fireworks display or using fireworks as a method of celebrating any council events.”
Angie Ferguson, chief executive of Perth Autism Support - which supports over 1200 young people across Perth and Kinross - told councillors fireworks can be “distressing and overwhelming primarily due to the unexpected nature of them” for some people with autism.
Katie McCandless-Thomas of Missing Pets, Perth and Kinross spoke of the “traumatic” effect fireworks had on animals and called on Perth and Kinross Council to “lead by example” and instead use “safe alternatives to fireworks”.
Liberal Democrat councillor Peter Barrett asked about switching to low noise or silent fireworks.
Katie responded: “Silent fireworks are not silent. They’re only a tiny, tiny bit quieter. A dog’s hearing is four times more sensitive than ours. A cat’s is even more sensitive.”
Conservative councillor Keith Allan questioned if the motion “went far enough”.
And Independent councillor Colin Stewart later questioned if it meant PKC could prevent displays happening on council-owned land.
Executive director of communities, Barbara Renton indicated she would need legal guidance but told councillors: “My understanding is that if there was an agreement that fireworks would not be used then that would imply there could not be any displays on any council land which would then take out other local fireworks displays.”
Council leader Grant Laing said: “As someone who has had rescue dogs, rescue cats, rescue chickens and even a rescue turkey I can appreciate the sentiments of the people who have made a deputation and welcome them.”
The Strathtay councillor was reluctant to rush into a decision and tabled a procedural motion to defer the decision.
It was seconded by SNP councillor Tom McEwan and voted through by 26 votes to 12 with the Provost and Depute Provost abstaining.
The issue will come back before Perth and Kinross Council on February 8, 2022.
