Issue - meetings

This cover report re-presents the final report from the Goose Management Scrutiny Review and asks the Committee to agree whether it wishes to reconsider any of the review recommendations, in light of the recent decision of the Executive.

Consideration was given to the final report from the Goose Management Scrutiny Review which had been re-presented to Members. This was to enable them to consider whether they wished to reconsider any of the recommendations of the review, in light of the decision of the Executive in April.

It was noted that Councillor Kramm as Chair of Task Group had presented the report, in some detail, to the Executive and whilst thanking the Task Group for their work the Executive had raised concerns regarding the resourcing and officer time required to produce and implement an integrated goose management strategy. The Executive had therefore not approved the recommendations as presented but had referred them back to the Committee for redrafting and for further consideration by the Executive Member, in line with budget constraints.

Members referred to the extensive work already undertaken in relation to the review and agreed that the recommendations as presented to the Executive in April 2016 were the most appropriate to properly address the city’s needs in relation to goose management. They noted that it had not traditionally been the role of scrutiny to produce reports or recommendations which an Executive could always support and therefore agreed that further consideration would set a precedent for the future working relationship between Scrutiny and the Executive.

Officers confirmed that they would try to identify any practical measures that could be taken to enable some or all of the recommended measures to be taken forward.

Following further discussion it was

Resolved:  That, having considered and reflected on the feedback from the Executive in relation to the final report of the Goose Management Scrutiny Review Task Group, the Committee agreed to refer back the final report and recommendations to the Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism for reconsideration.

Reason:     To take account of the Executives recommendations and in order to conclude the Scrutiny Review in line with CYC Scrutiny procedures and policy.

This report presents the findings from the Goose Managment Task Group review together with draft recommendations for the Committee’s endorsement.

Members considered the draft final report of Goose Management scrutiny review.

Members noted the amended report  (attached to the online agenda for this meeting). Members were advised that the changes took into account further feedback from the Lead Officer and feedback on the associated implications in order to provide further clarity.

Councillor Kramm who had chaired the task group, addressed the committee to outline the findings of scrutiny review. The Scrutiny Officer advised members that the effectiveness of the proposed recommendations would need to be monitored over a number of years before any further decisions are taken regarding the management of geese.

Resolved:  That the draft recommendations made by the Task Group, as detailed in paragraph 35  of the amended report, be endorsed.

Reason:     To conclude the work on this review in line with scrutiny procedures and protocols.