Issue - meetings

This report re-presents the final report from the Goose Management Scrutiny Review and asks the Executive Member for Culture, Leisure & Tourism to reconsider the review recommendations, in light of the additional information presented in this report.

Resolved:     That the Goose Management Scrutiny Review recommendations be approved.

Reason:        To assist in the development of a suitable long term strategy for the management of geese in York and to conclude this scrutiny review in line with scrutiny procedures and protocols.

The Executive Member received the final report from the Goose Management Scrutiny Review which asked him to reconsider the review recommendations.

Officers introduced the report and gave a number of updates in respect of some of the reviews recommendations namely that;

·        An order had been placed for additional fencing at War Memorial Gardens to fill in a gap in the original boundary fencing between the river and Gardens as well as a new gate in to see if this reduces geese accessing and grazing the Gardens.

·        The Friends of Rowntree Park had offered to contribute 25% of the costs of fencing one area of the formal gardens near Mercury.  This can be progressed subject to the ward committee funding the remaining 75%.

·        Officers are in the process of arranging a paddock cleaner test.

It was noted that one resident at the Palmer Street development which overlooked the Foss Islands geese nesting site, was interested in pursuing carrying out high frequency tests.

The Executive Member felt that other residents needed to be consulted before a high frequency test was carried out at Palmer Street. He commented that opinion remained unclear how to manage geese in the city. It would be up to each Ward to decide on their use of devolved funding  to develop appropriate local measures.

Resolved:     That the Goose Management Scrutiny Review recommendations be approved as detailed at Paragraph 2 in the Officer’s report.

Reason:        To assist in the development of a suitable long term strategy for the management of geese in York and to conclude this scrutiny review in line with scrutiny procedures and protocols.