Agenda item

RESOLVED:1)         That the council continue to prohibit the mass release of balloons and sky lanterns on council land and beaches through terms and conditions of hire.

2)            That the Council continue to discourage any mass release of balloons and sky lanterns through funding or officer time.

3)            That the use of flying rings on council beaches be prohibited and their use be proactively discouraged in other areas where there is a chance they could end up in the sea.

4)            That the Norfolk County Council Balloon and Sky Lantern Charter be signed up to.

5)            That available opportunities be used to promote these practices and encourage environmentally friendly alternatives, some of which can be found on the RSPCA website Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Balloon Releases & Sky Lanterns | RSPCA.

6)            That it be acknowledged that the extent of the powers available currently are to warn, inform and engage with land users in the hope that they comply, currently there are no associated resource to patrol the affected areas nor powers to penalise anyone failing to comply.

7)            That all parish councils within the borough be encouraged to adopt this approach for areas within their ownership.

Reason for Decision

The recommendations enable the council to raise awareness of balloons, sky Lantern and flying ring releases as an avoidable animal welfare, financial and safety issue, and prevent release on Council land.

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The release of balloons and sky lanterns in the outdoor environment poses a threat of harm to wildlife and livestock from ingestion, entanglement, entrapment and through the panic they cause. The flames within sky lanterns can pose a fire hazard and when released out to the sea a risk to the proper and effective operation of coastal rescue services.

Plastic flying rings, when used on the beaches and inadvertently left or lost present a risk to marine wildlife and in particular, seal pups as they may become trapped around the neck of the pups and may, in time, cause strangulation of the pup as they mature/grow if they are not caught, and the ring removed.

Both of the above are a potential source of litter and waste in our environment.

In proposing the recommendations Councillor Humphrey suggested that the same approach should be encouraged along the whole Norfolk and Suffolk coastline.

Under standing order 34, Councillor Nockolds in expressing the importance of the proposal drew attention to the fact that Parish Councils land should be included in it, or they be encouraged to introduce the policy for land in their area.

Under standing order 34, Councillor Long commended the encouragement of parishes and other land owners and authorities be encouraged to sign up to the Charter and adopt the policy themselves.

Under standing order 34, Councillor Kemp endorsed the approach.

Under standing order 34, Councillor Joyce drew attention to the fact that Parishes could come on board at any point in the future.

Under standing order 34 Councillor Dickinson supported the proposals.

Councillor Kunes drew attention to the issue of sky lanterns being dangerous in the countryside and the sea and they should be banned across the country.

Councillor Blunt suggested that the suggestion from Councillor Nockolds be included as a recommendations.

Councillor Lawrence supported the proposal.

It was suggested that Parish Councils be urged to adopt the policy and sign up to the County Council charter for any areas within their ownership.  This could be emailed out to Parishes with links to both the policy and the County Council Charter.

RESOLVED:1)       That the council continue to prohibit the mass release of balloons and sky lanterns on council land and beaches through terms and conditions of hire.

2)              That the Council continue to discourage any mass release of balloons and sky lanterns through funding or officer time.

3)              That the use of flying rings on council beaches be prohibited and their use be proactively discouraged in other areas where there is a chance they could end up in the sea.

4)              That the Norfolk County Council Balloon and Sky Lantern Charter be signed up to.

5)              That available opportunities be used to promote these practices and encourage environmentally friendly alternatives, some of which can be found on the RSPCA website Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Balloon Releases & Sky Lanterns | RSPCA.

6)              That it be acknowledged that the extent of the powers available currently are to warn, inform and engage with land users in the hope that they comply, currently there are no associated resource to patrol the affected areas nor powers to penalise anyone failing to comply.

7)              That all parish councils within the borough be encouraged to adopt this approach for areas within their ownership.

Reason for Decision

The recommendations enable the council to raise awareness of balloons, sky Lantern and flying ring releases as an avoidable animal welfare, financial and safety issue, and prevent release on Council land.