Agenda

Gull Forum 25th February, 2019 – Notes

Attendance:

Councillor Joy Squires (Chair)
Rob Moses - Crowngate
Mike Lloyd - Crowngate
Konrad Szymanski - Humberstones/Thursfields/K2 Residents
Natalie Graham - Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) Team Supervisor
Mark Cox - WRS (Technical Services Manager)
Daniel Walker - WRS (Technical Officer - Gull 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.

Apologies received from Councillor Lynn Denham and Phoebe Dawson (Worcester BID)

2. Actions from Previous Meeting

1. The audit trail is an ongoing piece of work. Mapping exercise is also underway for egg replacement work. (WRS)
2. No action was required.
3. K2 have looked at nest removal, at present no nests on the residential side, however one is visible in the road behind the building. Have also looked at netting, although this is unsightly. K2 have their own contractor who is coming on a monthly basis to remove any debris. All old nests have been removed. Number 9 has put spikes on their building to prevent birds perching, this seems to have had some positive affect on noise reduction. (K2)
4. Crowngate egg removal on hold while matters with the general licence are resolved with the pest control contractor. At present no nests, so continued debris removal is underway. (Crowngate)
5. There have been meetings with a number of businesses in both St Johns and Diglis in relation to gull management. This work is ongoing and whilst some businesses are keen to be involved in the egg replacement programme their rooves are only accessible with a Cherry Picker. (WRS/WC Environmental Operations)
6. Specific issues around domestic waste have been dealt with. If further issues occur please report in the usual way. Some discussion was had over the increased use of gull proof sacks at domestic properties, the difficulty in what to do with the empty bags was acknowledged, though WCC are happy to provide them to residents.
7. Concerns with Injured birds, note to be put on WC website (WC Comms)
8. PSPO consultation has now closed, there have been 1000 responses and generally of good quality. The first draft of the analysis has come out and indicates and equal split, further analysis to be done to dig deeper and look at the comments made. Information to be taken to July’s Community Committee. Point to note that if people are vexatious with feeding birds or failing to present waste appropriately then there are alternative routes to take action available. (WC Community Services)
9. Private landlords are scheduled to be written to in May. (WRS)
10. No action required.
11. Open topped litter bins are being replaced on Pitchcroft, many done however still to do ones at Moor St car park and Swan Theatre. (WC Environmental Operations)
12. Drones –Complex to use and looking at alternative options. (WRS)
13. BID are leading an information campaign. Once information available this will be circulated. (WC Comms)
14. Campaign – need to make aware that gulls are there and Food should not be left out. There is no specific budget for such a campaign, so will have to rely on communication to show how residents can help the cause. (WC Comms)
15. Bunting – Is now up on the High Street. (BID)
16. Smart bins have been ordered first phase to be in position on High Street shortly the other half to be done before the end of the financial year. 26 bins in total. (WC Environmental Operations)
17. Takeaways etc. not using their bins properly – need to take enforcement action there. KS provided photo’s of this in respect of Ashley’s. SH and AD advised to forward such complaints to them for consideration of action. (WC Community Services)
18. Sources of food – tackling takeaways etc. critical. Agreed additional way to assist would be education when food premises are visited. (WRS)
19. Possible to employ roof contractors? This is not being progressed at this time.
20. Gull proof sacks available to all businesses outside of Worcester BID area. Not able to confirm this but agreement that gull proof sacks are more visible. (Worcester BID/WC Environmental Operations)
21. Able to trial gull proof sacks in residential areas. These are available to anyone that would like to trial them. (Environmental Operations WC)
22. Joint campaign with city council looking at St Ives – No such campaign is planned with WC but hoping that can facilitate people to help themselves by way of information provision. (WC Comms)
23. Invite new members as discussed, a resident was invited, however did not attend.

3. Updates

WRS – Have got some difficulty making contact with BT about the egg replacement on their building. The current email contacts are bouncing back.
Some of the sites keen to be involved with the egg replacement programme will need a cherry picker for access – confirmed that WCC have one available but there is still issues around finding an operator for it.

4. General Licence Update

Information provided on the withdrawal of the three general licences that allow bird control following legal challenge by Wild Justice. The current position from Natural England is as follows:

“Natural England is working as quickly as possible to minimise disruption, and has now begun to issue new licences, starting with those species and circumstances most likely to require urgent control, to enable users to continue to operate within the law. The new licences will not have unnecessary burdens or restrictions and users who have operated within the scope of the previous licences will be able to continue to control birds.”

Full information can be found here https://naturalengland.blog.gov.uk/2019/04/28/general-licences-update-and-the-next-steps/

5. Future Idea’s and Thoughts
There do not appear to be gulls perching or nesting on the Hive. Is there a reason for this, can it be looked at?

There was general agreement around the table that things are progressing and that we are on the right track and that this was never going to be a quick fix for the ongoing Gull problems in the City.

6. Specific Actions from this meeting

• Circulation of information provided by BID to extend as far as possible (BID and ALL)
• Speak to food lead to request advice is provided on appropriate food waste removal by business during visits by EH officers. (WRS)
• MC to liaise with SH regarding use of cherry picker and suitable operative. (WRS and WC)
• Visit to the Hive to establish (WRS)
       If it is accessible
       What the roof is like, hot/reflective/flat
       Are there any nests or sign of Gull’s using it
       If not why it may be less attractive to them
• Circulate further information when available on the status of the general licence (WRS)

7. Date of next meeting

Agreement that it should be arranged for week beginning 9th September.