Communities will be able to submit requests for firework control zones (FCZs) after Renfrewshire Council approved the use of the discretionary powers.

An FCZ is a geographical area in which it is illegal to use fireworks outside of a licensed display, including on private property.

Legislation, which came into force last year, has given councils the authority to designate an FCZ – either on its own accord or following a community request.

But there needs to be a “good evidence base” to do so, backed up by data and intelligence from the likes of Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, as well as extensive consultation.

That’s according to a report discussed at Tuesday’s communities and housing policy board, at which elected members gave the use of the powers and the application of a community request process the green light.

Councillor Jamie McGuire, a Labour representative for Renfrew North and Braehead, supported the steps taken but called for “tougher” action on fireworks in general.

He added: “I have no issue with public displays – I think they’re great – but the fact that we’ve got all these private displays with no regulation at all, I think there needs to be some sort of regulation in place to make sure that people are going to be using them appropriately.

“If you actually look at the stats, whether it be A&E or the fire brigade, Bonfire Night is our busiest day of the year.

“Every single year they complain about it but we don’t do anything, so I think it’s something we need to look at on a national level to actually get tough on it.

“It’s not because the majority of people don’t behave because they do but you always have a few and they cause a hassle for our public servants.

“We need to do more to protect them during these times because it is a real dangerous period for them.”

Councillor Marie McGurk, board convener and SNP representative for Paisley Southeast, responded: “The whole point of this is to try and regulate it but I understand your concern about it because it’s something new that we’re trying to do.”

Requests can be submitted by a community of residents (25 signatories), welfare group, community council or local partnership area.

The application will be considered by the community safety partnership and either accepted to proceed to a consultation or rejected at this initial stage.

If a decision is then taken to establish a zone, appropriate steps must be taken to raise awareness of the outcome.