Cllr Allan Knox, Leader of the Opposition, has submitted a motion that will be debated at the meeting of Ribble Valley’s Full Council on Tuesday 9th October, that addresses future workings of ESAG – the organisation responsible for providing safety advice to events in the Ribble Valley.

The motion is as follows:

• Council notes with regret the announcement of the cancellation of Clitheroe bonfire.
• Council also notes the advisory nature of ESAG.
• Council calls upon the Chief Executive to review ESAG’s policies and procedures to ensure that all advice it provides is done in a constructive and timely manner.
• Council asks that the outcome of this review is reported to the next meeting of Policy and Finance committee.

Cllr Knox said: “It is clear that when relationships between the organisers of a community bonfire and an advisory group have got to the stage that the organisers of the previously successful event quit then something has to change.”

The motion was passed unanimously with a few minor ammendments.

The full text of it now reads:

Council notes with regret the announcement of the cancellation of the Clitheroe bonfire.
Council also notes the advisory nature of ESAG.

Council requires the Chief Executive, in conjunction with a working group of members (3 Con, 1 Lib Dem, 1 Ind), to review ESAG’s policies, constitution and procedures to ensure that all advice it provides is done in a constructive, helpful and timely manner.

Council requires that outcome of this review is reported to the next meeting of Policy and Finance Committee.

(Amended wording in bold).