Bonfire and Fireworks Display Event on 5 November 2023
Perth and Kinross Council · 18 September 2023
Back to Perth Common Good Fund Committee — 18 September 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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PERTH AND KINROSS COUNCIL Perth Common Good Fund Committee 18 September 2023 BONFIRE AND FIREWORKS DISPLAY EVENT ON 5 NOVEMBER 2023 Report by Head of Cultural and Community Services (Report No. 23/249) 1. PURPOSE 1.1 The report provides details of the Bonfire and Fireworks event on 5 November 2023 to be organised by the Perth and Strathearn 200 Round Table and a request for additional funding from Perth Common Fund Committee. 2. RECOMMENDATION 2.1 It is recommended that Committee: • Consider the application and agree any financial assistance to be awarded. 3. STRUCTURE OF REPORT 3.1 This report is structured over the following sections: • Section 4: Background / Main Issues • Section 5: Proposal • Section 6: Conclusion • Appendices 4. BACKGROUND / MAIN ISSUES 4.1 Perth and Kinross Council owns land and property which forms part of the Common Good of the former burghs in Perth and Kinross and has a statutory duty in terms of section 15 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 to administer this land and property “having regard to the interests of the inhabitants” of those former burghs. This duty also applies to the administration of the associated Common Good Funds. 4.2 The Common Good Funds have traditionally demonstrated their support to local residents and organisations by distributing grants. These grant awards allow individuals and local organisations to carry out a wide range of community-based activities.
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4.3 Applications to Common Good Funds vary across the different former burghs of Perth and Kinross. The Perth Common Good Fund is larger and receives a much higher number of applications than the other Funds. Therefore, additional criteria are applied to assist with assessing applications (see Appendix 1). 4.4 The 2023/24 Budget for the Perth Common Good Fund was approved at the Committee meeting on 6 February 2023 (Report 23/37 refers). The approved budget includes an allocation of £20,000 to support the Perth Fireworks and Bonfire Display on 5 November 2023. 4.5 This report outlines how this funding will be used and includes an application for additional funding. 5. PROPOSAL Perth & Strathearn 200 Round Table (Fireworks) 5.1 A grant application has been received for the Perth Fireworks and Bonfire display for £25,201. The group has organised this event for several years in collaboration with the Council, local communities and businesses. This is considered locally as a major event where the community can gather in large numbers on the South Inch in Perth and safely enjoy the sights and sounds of the display. In addition to the Bonfire and Fireworks Display, the event provides entertainment, including music, opportunities for local young artists, a funfair and food vendors. This was also approved as one of a limited number of fireworks events permitted on Council owned land at the Council meeting of 10 May 2023. 5.2 Following points raised with their previous application, the Committee should be aware that following discussions with their fireworks provider regarding methods of reducing environmental impact, the organisation is proposing that the following actions be implemented for this year’s display: • Reduce the display from 20 minutes to 15 minutes, reducing CO2 emissions and duration of noise impact as well as keeping cost similar to last year’s fireworks including inflation. This is within the time period agreed by Council for firework events. • Reducing the size of the bonfire by 25% again reducing CO2, duration and materials required. • Starting the display with lower noise fireworks and music before building up noise levels during the shortened show. This is a method used at other displays (racecourses etc.) where animals are present on site or in close vicinity. The timings of the event will also be publicised to allow animal owners to prepare and minimise distress, again in line with the Council decision.
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• Messages on social media recommending that attendees walk or use public transport in the journey to the event. 5.3 It is estimated that the event will attract 7,000 people, of which 3,500 are from Perth and Kinross, 2,000 are from outside of Perth and Kinross and 1,500 are from outside of Perth & Kinross. Although the event is free of charge, the public can leave a donation that will be distributed to local causes. 5.4 The total cost of the event is estimated at £25,201– a breakdown of costs has been provided below. The Perth Common Good Fund has been asked to provide the full amount. The costs have again been impacted by inflation this year and there are ongoing positive discussions with local businesses to offer their services in-kind that may reduce the total costs. Specific items Amount Pyrotechnics fireworks display/ Sound system £15,900 Fencing and safety barriers (2 days) £1,950 Generator (2 days) £530 Generator Cabling (2 days) £130 Portacabin (x2) £600 Trailer Hire with Insurance (2 days) £250 4x4 vehicle (x2) hire with Insurance (2 days) £1,000 First Aid facilities and trained personnel £700 Forklift vehicle and operator £1,000 Other (e.g. fuel, volunteer’s food and drink etc) £420 South Inch Site Hire £121 Pallets/Potato Boxes £2,000 Pallets/Potato Boxes (delivery) £600 Total proposed expenditure £25,201 Funding requested £25,201 Funding provisionally allocated £20,000 Remaining funding gap £5,201 Consideration 5.5 The Perth Common Good Fund has been asked to provide £25,201 of funding, of which £20,000 has provisionally been allocated as agreed at Perth Common Good Fund meeting on 6 February 2023. Based on the overall cost of £25,201, the Committee is asked to consider a further grant of £5,201 which is consistent with Criteria 9.2a. 5.6 The Perth & Strathearn 200 Round Table have had a total of £22,094 in approved funding from the Perth Common Good Fund over the last three years. Year Amount Actual Recieved Project 2022/23 £22,094 (£16,500 Budget + £5,594 additional funding) £18,932 Perth Fireworks and Bonfire
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2021/22 - - Application withdrawn as event cancelled 2020/21 - - COVID – No application as event cancelled 6. CONCLUSION 6.1 The Committee is asked to consider allocating a grant of £25,201 to Perth & Strathearn 200 Round Table for the costs of the Bonfire and Fireworks Display on 5 November 2023. This comprises the £20,000 previously allocated, with an additional grant of £5,201. Authors Name Designation Contact Details Jacob Dudgeon Community Planning Officer (01738) 475000 ComCommitteeReports@pkc.gov.uk Lee Haxton Community Planning Team Leader Approved Name Designation Date Barbara Renton Executive Director (Communities) 30 August 2023 APPENDICES • Appendix 1 – Perth City Common Good Fund Criteria
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ANNEX 1. IMPLICATIONS, ASSESSMENTS, CONSULTATION, AND COMMUNICATION Strategic Implications Yes / None Community Plan / Single Outcome Agreement Yes Corporate Plan Yes Resource Implications Financial Yes Workforce None Asset Management (land, property, IST) None Assessments Equality Impact Assessment None Strategic Environmental Assessment None Sustainability (community, economic, environmental) None Legal and Governance None Risk None Consultation Internal Yes External None Communication Communications Plan None 1. Strategic Implications Community Plan 1.1 The proposals will contribute to the Community Plan’s aim of safe, healthy and inclusive communities and the outcome of communities will have improved quality of life. The recommendations contained within this report are in accordance with the priorities of Perth Common Good Fund's criteria for financial assistance. Corporate Plan 1.2 The proposals will contribute to the Corporate Plan’s objectives of developing educated, responsible and informed citizens and the outcome of people are ready for life and work. The recommendations contained within this report are in accordance with the priorities of Perth Common Good Fund's criteria. 2. Resource Implications Financial 2.1 The Head of Finance has been consulted and has indicated agreement with the proposals. The recommendations contained within this report will be funded from the 2022/23 Financial Assistance budgets.
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Workforce 2.2 Not applicable. Asset Management (land, property, IT) 2.3 Not applicable. 3. Assessments Equality Impact Assessment 3.1 Under the Equality Act 2010, the Council is required to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between equality groups. Carrying out Equality Impact Assessments for plans and policies allows the Council to demonstrate that it is meeting these duties. 3.2 This section should reflect that the proposals have been considered under the Corporate Equalities Impact Assessment process (EqIA) with the following outcome: Assessed as not relevant for the purposes of EqIA. Strategic Environmental Assessment 3.3 The Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 places a duty on the Council to identify and assess the environmental consequences of its proposals. 3.4 However, no action is required as the Act does not apply to the matters presented in this report. This is because the Committee are requested to note the contents of the report only and the Committee are not being requested to approve, adopt or agree to an action or to set the framework for future decisions. Sustainability 3.5 Not applicable. Legal and Governance 3.6 Not applicable. Risk 3.7 Not applicable.
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4. Consultation Internal 4.1 The Head of Finance and the Head of Legal and Governance have been consulted. External 4.2 Not applicable. Communication 5.1 Not applicable. 6. BACKGROUND PAPERS 6.1 Perth & Strathearn 200 Round Table Common Good Fund Application.