Report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods)

This report provides an overview of the approach to planning and delivery of a safe Bonfire/fireworks season. The report includes details of anti-social behaviour during this period and an assessment of the impact of the Council’s decision not to reinstate Bonfire Night events during 2022.

The Committee considered the report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods) which provided an overview of the approach to planning and delivery of a safe Bonfire/fireworks season. The report included details of anti-social behaviour during this period and an assessment of the impact of the Council’s decision not to reinstate Bonfire Night events during 2022.

Key points and themes in the report included:

• Background information;
• The Greater Manchester Bonfire Campaign 2022;
• Bonfire and fireworks incidents; and
• The future of Bonfire Night events.

Paula Lyons from GMFRS informed the Committee that her service’s official report would not be available until early February but that it would be shared with partners when it was available.  She reported that the service’s data showed that there had been a slight increase in bonfire and firework-related incidents in 2022 but fewer attacks on firefighters, with two incidents involving the throwing of fireworks at firefighters and fire engines.

Superintendent Paul Walker from GMP reported that it was expected that there would be a level of anti-social behaviour up to and including Bonfire Night and that the levels in 2022 were as expected in a typical year.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were: -

• That official Bonfire Night displays held in Wythenshawe Park in previous years had created problems for local people, for example in relation to parking, and that, as a local Ward Councillor, a Member had received positive comments from residents about not having this issue around Bonfire Night 2022, rather than people complaining that an official event was not held;
• The environmental impact of Bonfire Night events, including people travelling to an official display;
• The community events and activities to replace Bonfire Night displays and whether these were held in or attracted people from the wards highlighted in the report as the worst affected by fireworks incidents; and
• Identifying shops which were selling fireworks to children.

The Head of Parks outlined the reasons for not reinstating the Bonfire Night displays in 2022, including the funding gap which would have required diverting funds from other areas, the environmental impact of the events and that, with the cost-of-living rise, many people were less able to afford to spend money on the income-generating elements of the events, such as food and drink stalls and funfairs.  She informed Members about alternative events which were being provided throughout the winter period, which had included the provision of free or low-cost food.  She reported that she could provide details of the events broken down by localities.  She advised that not having to plan and prepare for the Bonfire Night events had enabled Parks staff to focus on engaging with local residents and raising quality standards but that the decision would be reviewed for 2023.  In response to a Member’s question, she confirmed that the Council had previously applied for and received a grant of £10,000 from GMFRS towards safely putting on Bonfire Night events but that, if the Council had applied for the grant for 2022, they would only have been able to bid for £5,000.

In response to a Member’s question, the Head of Compliance, Enforcement, and Community Safety reported that it was difficult to establish whether there was a causal link between anti-social behaviour and official Bonfire Night displays being held but that, when the full figures for 2022 were available, officers would be able to undertake a more detailed analysis.  She reported that her service had undertaken visits to fireworks retailers but had received no complaints this year of under-age sales.  She advised that test purchases would be undertaken at any retailers for which they received complaints about under-age sales.  She reported that her service would use the analysis of the data from 2022 to identify areas where there were higher levels of firework incidents and look at fireworks retailers in those areas.

Paula Lyons reported that a range of factors, such as the weather, impacted on the level of incidents around Bonfire Night and that GMFRS had increased its community intervention with schools in the build-up to Bonfire Night 2022 which could have impacted on the number of incidents.

The Chair reported that residents in her ward had been disappointed not to have a Bonfire Night display in their local park but that, instead, a well-attended and well-received event had taken place in the run-up to Christmas.  She thanked officers for putting on that event and requested that a similar event take place in 2023.

The Executive Member for Vibrant Neighbourhoods reported that it had been a difficult decision not to go ahead with the official Bonfire Night displays in 2022 but that it had been the right decision, based on the information so far, although they were still waiting for all the data to be available to make a full evaluation.  She outlined the considerable amount of work over months involving different Council services and partners to put on safe, funded Bonfire Night events.  She informed Members that work was taking place to ensure that there were other activities in parks and ensure that parks were used all year round.  She advised that young people did not always feel safe on Bonfire Night and that the Council was looking to put alternative events in place and she encouraged Members to contact her with any suggestions they had.  She offered to provide a further update at an appropriate time.

The Chair recognised the hard work of officers and thanked GMP and GMFRS for all their work to keep Manchester residents safe.

Decision

To note the report.