Agenda

Gull Forum 25th February, 2019 – Notes

Attendance:

Councillor Joy Squires (Chair)
Councillor Chris Mitchell
Rob Moses - Crowngate
Mike Lloyd - Crowngate
Konrad Szymanski - Humberstanes/Thursfields/K2 Residents
Gloria Hawthorn - Worcester BID
Phoebe Dawson - Worcester BID
Helen Proctor - University of Worcester
David Whelan - Worcester Cathedral
Natalie Graham - Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) Team Supervisor
Mark Cox - WRS (Technical Services Manager)
Daniel Walker - WRS (Technical Officer - Gull Control)
Andrew Staples - Red Kite Pest Control
Alice Davey - Worcester City Council, Head of Communities
Sue Horrobin - Worcester City Council, Head of Environmental Operations

1. Welcome and Introductions

Joy welcomed all. The purpose of the forum is to bring together organisations involved in controlling gulls, share good practice and work together.

2. Terms of Reference

• Discussion around whether an objective is to reduce gulls and whether we are able to reduce numbers.
• Agreed that the forum will identify potential courses of action that could reduce gulls.
• Representation – need to invite reps from Cathedral Square, the Hive, HoW college, St Martin’s quarter, Museum & Porcelain Works should be involved, Kings are a big land owner, RGS is next door to K2 with large field where gulls gather. Many buildings owned by Cathedral.
• Residents – lots in Diglis affected by this issue.
• Frequency of meetings – agreed quarterly year one.

3 Current methods of Gull management

MC (WRS) gave an overview of existing methods of gull control and engagement with local residents and businesses (see also reports to Environment Committee 31.10.2017 and 23.10.2018).

• Egg replacement is a main focus, largely in city centre but looking to expand.
• If time/practicalities allow would like to do more in harder to reach areas e.g. those around the K2 building, but need cherry picker etc. to get to some rooves.
• Gull Officer WRS will be writing to all Private Landlords across city to do gull prevention measures or egg replacement themselves.
• With new dedicated officer in place, WRS will be more proactive in talking to businesses that we have not worked with to date.
• Survey for a number of years comprising of a visual count, but no full survey for a good number of years so will be looking to organise a full survey (figures included in Committee reports).
• Drones – used to count? No, surveying is done by eye.
• Drones used last year to locate nests… lots of restrictions about use of drones, lots of practicalities to overcome but one of tools in kit.
• Corner of Britannia square regular problem for extra waste/black bags
• More city centre living now, nature of city centre is changing.
• Could see nests from K2 but could not get to them.
• Aware that Dundee did cull under license.
• Residents/businesses will pay to get action taken, noise from birds is a real problem.
• So far our approach has been for egg replacement not nest destruction as gulls are calmer and less noisy when sitting on nests. It was acknowledged that nest removal will result in a new nest being built, however may be an option for some areas.
• GH - In last 8 years has got worse, not seen a decline, gulls have become more aggressive.
• Bunting has been used here – Aberdeen has had success (but there were also complaints about noise from the bunting!).
• KS - Plans are not going to make a significant impact in the short term.
• Lesser black backed and herring gulls are protected. For a cull there has to be evidence of a risk to public health or safety.
• GH - Attacks on people/dogs, they are swooping and attacking people. Increase in attacks.
  If displaced from city centre, they will go into gardens. Handful of gulls who do the attacking, only a small number.
• Cathedral is a prolific nesting space, Cathedral have to go onto the roof, it has to be maintained, gulls set off alarm sensors, causing lots of problems/call outs.
• People not being able to sleep through the night real issue in city centre.
• University action - Last year – nest clearance on St Johns campus. Big issue at Jennie Lind, City camps also. Falconer does come in during summer. Last summer not able to get to some rooves.
  Crowngate tried the red roof and they did stay away but they get used to it and then gulls were nesting on it.
• Lots of advice on website to design out.
• RSPCA calls where young birds fall off rooves – agreed to include advice on website about what to do if you see an injured bird.
• Biggest issue is noise, at university Jenny Lind in summer, can’t open windows. Nesting area at St Johns.
  University move nests - wait until there are eggs, when see if nest built, someone employed to monitor.
  Alarms on cathedral roof are set off by gulls landing on the roof.

4. Future ideas/thoughts

Over the years we have not gathered the evidence, we now have a resource available to do much more.

We need to test out all ideas and methods, collate data and build case, audit trail.

Need to identify what your issue is, mess, noise?

Egg replacement issue – gulls are still sitting there and making a noise.
But nests can be rebuilt 3 or 4 times, each time they have to be taken away.
Unless we can get rid of more and more eggs they will keep coming back.
Now we have a dedicated resource in place, we need to try a mix of methods.
Noise is the key issue.
People willing to work together and influence a future strategy.
Egg replacement is better as they will stay on them all through the season, but with nest removal then they will rebuild. Rebuilding nests could make even more noise?
Hive roof – do not get gulls! Why?
People willing to work together and influence a future strategy.
Not possible to make owners of buildings responsible.
Need something to retro fit to existing rooves.

5. Actions
1. Collate data and build case, audit trail for evidence of issues. WRS
2. Egg replacement and Nest clearance can be carried out but you do need a licence - see Natural England website.
3. Around K2 will try nest removal. K2 building nest removal covered by red Kite? Yes, just some practicalities to overcome. If not, we will get a contractor in to do it. Need to keep data, frequency of removal etc. WRS or private contractor/K2
4. Crowngate – will trial egg and nest removal this year, monitor outcomes. Crowngate.
5. We need to target those buildings where gulls have been pushed out to. WRS
6. Check approach by Domestic waste crews – leaving bags on the floor adds to the problem. Environmental Operations(WC)
7. RSPB – make sure our info tells people what to do if they see injured chicks. Comms(WC)
8. PSPO will allow us to take action with people who are vexatiously feeding gulls regularly. Other enforcement options for those regularly causing complaints due to gull feeding include Community Protection Warning (CPW), followed by Community Protection Notice (CPN). PSPO in consultation this week, will send out message to discourage people from feeding birds, in relation to public space around city centre area. PSPO will allow us to take action with people who are vexatiously feeding gulls in a one-off event through an fixed penalty notice fine (FPN). Community Services(WC)
9. Get landlords involved, we will be writing to all private landlords. WRS
10. KS – accept all have a role to play, not just pushing the responsibility to the council, if needed we will raise the money. If difficulty is the cherry picker, we will fund this.
11. Open topped litter bins along Tything/Pitchcroft - need to be replaced. Environmental Operations(WC)
12. Drones – firefly have licence etc. We have some thoughts as to what we could do.WRS
13. Campaign for people to be more thoughtful around what they do with litter, make people more gull aware. Comms(WC)
14. Campaign – need to make aware that people are there. Food should not be left out. Comms(WC)
15. Bunting – do more of this where we can. Worcester BID
16. New bins trialled last summer were good but not enough bins. We will be looking to install these bins in the summer. Environmental Operations(WC)
17. Takeaways etc. not using their bins properly – need to take enforcement action there. Community Services (WC)
18. Sources of food – tackling takeaways etc. critical. Missing lids/sacks/trade waste – City Council has a trade waste enforcement policy. Community Services (WC)
19. Possible to employ roof contractors? Something we can look at. WRS
20. Gull proof sacks available to all businesses, whether in BID or not. Worcester BID
21. Able to trial gull proof sacks in residential areas. Environmental Operations (WC)
22. Joint campaign with city council looking at St Ives – good award winning campaign. Trying to send the msg home, things like the PSPO will help. Comms (WC)
23. Invite new members as discussed University for HoW contact; WRS for Cathedral Square; WC Economic Development for St Martins Gate; uncertain for Porcelain Museum; Kings; RGS; Diglis Residents Association.

6. Date of next meeting

Date to be agreed by circulation.