Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Communities & Sustainability)

There is evidence to show that releases of sky lanterns present an avoidable fire and safety risk. There is also evidence to indicate that mass balloon releases are a risk to livestock and wildlife. Given the evidence of harm to wildlife and the environment the Council should adopt a policy to ban mass balloon or sky lantern releases from Council land.

The Executive is invited to:

·         Approve the mass balloon or sky lantern releases policy, as set out at in Appendix One.

·         Incorporate the prohibition of sky lanterns and mass balloon releases into the terms and conditions for the use of Parks & Public Spaces and Conferences and Events organised in Council buildings.

Officer contact: Megan Black, 0161 218 1410, megan.black@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Communities & Sustainability) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive to approve a prohibition on organised balloon and sky lantern releases from Council land in view of the impact of the debris from such activity posing a fire risk and a danger to the environment and wildlife.

The Executive Councillor recommended that for the avoidance of confusion, the title of the proposed policy be amended to replace the word ‘mass’ with ‘organised’.

RESOLVED – That, subject to the replacement of the word ‘mass’ with ‘organised’:-

·         approval be given to the organised balloon or sky lantern release policy as set out at appendix one of the report;

·         the prohibition of sky lantern and organised balloon releases be incorporated into the terms and conditions for the use of Parks & Public Spaces, and Conferences and Events organised in Council buildings.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration

The report sets out a proposal to ban mass balloon or sky lantern releases from Council land.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the proposal before the final decision is taken by the Executive at its meeting on 16 December 2014.

Officer Contact: Megan Black on 0161 218 1410 or email: megan.black @stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Scrutiny Committee to comment on a proposed policy which would prohibit organised balloon and sky lantern releases from Council land in view of the impact of the debris from such activity posing a fire risk and a danger to the environment and wildlife.

The report would be considered by the Executive at its meeting on 16 December 2014.

The Executive Councillor (Communities and Sustainability) (Councillor Martin Candler) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

A Member expressed concern about how ‘mass’ balloon or sky lantern releases would be defined.

RESOLVED – That the Executive Meeting be advised that the Scrutiny Committee has no objections to the draft policy on the prohibition of mass balloon or sky lantern releases from Council land.