Agenda item

Report of the urban gulls scrutiny task group to endorse and recommend to Cabinet

The Chair invited Councillor Sudbury to introduce the report of the Urban Gulls Scrutiny Task Group.   Councillor Sudbury welcomed questions and comments on the report, but firstly thanked the members and officers on the Task Group for their work over the past few months.

Councillor Sudbury pointed out that of the recommendations, the £10,000 increase in the budget was not intended to cover all 19 recommendations.  Rather it was envisaged that the cost of many of the recommendations such as litter bins, would be met from other budgets.  The additional resource was needed to develop a media plan, meet any costs associated with purchase and use of a drone, produce a Supplementary Planning Document and create a leaflet aimed at businesses which would be distributed via email by local business organisations.

Councillor Sudbury shared with the committee a map showing the main locations where the urban gull population is most prevalent.  Whilst acknowledging that it would be impossible to try and eradicate Cheltenham’s urban gull population as there is no single proven method for controlling them, the recommendations of the Task Group are intended to more effectively control the growth of the gull population in our town. 

Members acknowledged and appreciated the work of the Task Group and particularly the comprehensive and detailed report brought to committee.  Members raised the following points:

·         Possibility of hiring/sharing a drone may be more cost effective than purchase;

·         It is important to be clear to residents that the gulls cannot be eradicated;

·         There are privacy concerns regarding the use of drones around residential properties;

·         The Council does not have a statutory obligation to manage the urban gull population

·         Support for the indirect approach, particularly the better management of food waste

·         It would be helpful to have more evidence on the efficacy of egg oiling and of the activities undertaken within the current budget.

A member questioned whether egg oiling is effective.  Councillor Sudbury advised that this is the method the Council currently uses and was not covered in the terms of reference for the working group.

In response to a question regarding the use of cherry pickers and the potential savings which could result from using drones, Councillor Barrell, a member of the Task Group, advised that the drone would be used to spot nests; currently a cherry picker is used to access nests which have been reported, but which in some cases are not there.  It costs money to hire a cherry picker as well as considerable officer time and possible road closure to set one up.  A cherry picker would still be needed to treat many nest, although not all are accessible from a cherry picker.

A member raised concerns about loss of privacy from the use of a drone.  It was noted that many organisations already use a drone; Worcester trialled the use of a drone to find gulls nests this summer.  A Council owned drone could be used for other aspects of the council’s work.  Also the Task Group had considered that it was important that any use of a drone was strictly controlled through appropriate policy

Members appreciated that part of the work of the Task Group was to learn more about urban gulls and how other councils tackle the issue. 

In response to a member being unable to support recommendation 4 regarding enforcing property owners to gull proof their properties or have to treat nests on their property, Councillor Barrell clarified that this recommendation is being made as some organisations refuse access to their roofs.

Councillor Jordan reminded members that the report will go to cabinet on 4 December 2018 and that cabinet will prioritise the recommendations..

The Chair thanked the Task Group for their work and for the excellent and detailed report.