Bury Council balloon release resposnse 2017-08-01

Pat Jones-Greenhalgh
Interim Chief Executive

Our Ref		PJG/GM
Your Ref
Date			1st August 2017
Please ask for
Direct Line		[redacted]
E-mail			p.j.greenhalgh@bury.gov.uk

Sent by email: [address redacted]

Dear Mr Mabbett

Complaint regarding Councillor D Gunther

I thank you for drawing this matter to the Council’s attention.

The Mayor of Bury (this year Councillor Gunther), is requested to carry out a significant number of mayoral engagements as part of her civic duties.  The Council does use a written format to obtain details for advance planning of engagements.  Having considered the details on the appropriate form for this particular community event which you have drawn to our attention, there was no mention of a balloon release as part of the event.

As you set out in your complaint, the Council is very concerned about looking after the environment, reducing litter and promoting recycling – examples of initiatives its participates in and leads on include the Bury Street Care Pledge, Area Based Street Care Teams and participation in Britain in Bloom.

Your comments regarding the balloons releases are completely valid.  The Council does not participate per se in balloon releases but accepts that in a small number of cases small balloon releases can be powerful symbols at events (including celebrations and memorial services).  In this case the event was to remember all those suffering from violence. As you say release balloons can also create litter and be harmful to the environment but I would assure you that the balloons were biodegradable.  Further should the Council or its Civic Head be asked to participate in any such releases in the future it will make every reasonable attempt to ensure latex balloons are used, that all components used in the balloon release will be biodegradable.

Yours sincerely

[image of signature]

Pat Jones-Greenhalgh
Interim Chief Executive