Agenda item

Motion Submitted by the Green Party Group with the support of a Liberal Democrat Member - End the Badger Cull

 

This motion recognises the harm caused by Bovine TB to cattle but believes the Government’s national Badger Cull is the wrong answer. Recent studies produced in an Independent Scientific Review in 2018 by Professor Sir Charles Godfray, state that the cull only has a modest impact on the disease. They’re encouraging the government to follow vaccination programmes and for farms to enforce better management programmes to combat the disease.

 

A 2014 report by an Independent Expert Panel of scientists appointed by Defra to assess the effectiveness and humaneness of the 2013 pilot badger culls, concluded:

 

  The culls did not even come close to reducing badger populations by the 70% needed, the minimum level deemed to have any significant effect in reducing Bovine Tuberculosis in cattle;

  Coverage of 70% of the land in the cull area, another essential criteria for having any significant effect, could not be confirmed making the cull ineffective;

  Up to 18% of badgers shot were still alive after 5 minutes and at risk of experiencing marked pain, meaning up to 422 badgers may have suffered marked pain.

 

This Council notes:

 

  That strong objections to badger culling have been expressed in the UK which resulted in a petition of over 100,000 people in 2017;

  Parliament overwhelmingly voted by 219 votes to one in March 2014 to halt the badger cull stating the trials had "decisively failed" - though the result was non-binding;

  That despite contradicting statements there is strong scientific evidence that culling badgers has not made a difference to the numbers of bovine TB;

  That leading scientists in this field agree that a cull will make little or no difference and that free shooting has not been scientifically tested anywhere and could even spread bovine TB;

  The National Trust and the 37 County Wildlife Trusts are not allowing the cull to take place on their land and are working with farmers and landowners on alternative methods.

 

This Council agrees to:

 

  Oppose the Government’s decision to cull badgers in England;

  Urge the Government to reconsider the decision as there is no scientific, economic or moral basis for culling;

  Remind the Government that badgers are a legally protected species and to kill them without knowing the full facts is a disgrace. There is now increasing public disquiet and disbelief at the violence and animal suffering associated with the badger cull;

        To not voluntarily allow badger culling on land in its ownership or any land tenanted.

Minutes:

(Note: Prior to consideration of this item, the time being 9.16 p.m., the Mayor indicated that the mover and seconder would have a maximum of 2 minutes each and that all other speeches would be limited to a maximum of one minute per speaker.)

 

It was moved and seconded that:

 

“This motion recognises the harm caused by Bovine TB to cattle but believes the Government’s national Badger Cull is the wrong answer. Recent studies produced in an Independent Scientific Review in 2018 by Professor Sir Charles Godfray, state that the cull only has a modest impact on the disease. They’re encouraging the government to follow vaccination programmes and for farms to enforce better management programmes to combat the disease.

 

A 2014 report by an Independent Expert Panel of scientists appointed by Defra to assess the effectiveness and humaneness of the 2013 pilot badger culls, concluded:

 

  The culls did not even come close to reducing badger populations by the 70% needed, the minimum level deemed to have any significant effect in reducing Bovine Tuberculosis in cattle;

  Coverage of 70% of the land in the cull area, another essential criteria for having any significant effect, could not be confirmed making the cull ineffective;

  Up to 18% of badgers shot were still alive after 5 minutes and at risk of experiencing marked pain, meaning up to 422 badgers may have suffered marked pain.

 

This Council notes:

 

  That strong objections to badger culling have been expressed in the UK which resulted in a petition of over 100,000 people in 2017;

  Parliament overwhelmingly voted by 219 votes to one in March 2014 to halt the badger cull stating the trials had "decisively failed" - though the result was non-binding;

  That despite contradicting statements there is strong scientific evidence that culling badgers has not made a difference to the numbers of bovine TB;

  That leading scientists in this field agree that a cull will make little or no difference and that free shooting has not been scientifically tested anywhere and could even spread bovine TB;

  The National Trust and the 37 County Wildlife Trusts are not allowing the cull to take place on their land and are working with farmers and landowners on alternative methods.

 

This Council agrees to:

 

    Oppose the Government’s decision to cull badgers in England;

    Urge the Government to reconsider the decision as there is no scientific, economic or moral basis for culling;

    Remind the Government that badgers are a legally protected species and to kill them without knowing the full facts is a disgrace. There is now increasing public disquiet and disbelief at the violence and animal suffering associated with the badger cull;

     To not voluntarily allow badger culling on land in its ownership or any land tenanted.”

 

Following a debate on the matter, the Motion was put to the vote and in accordance with Procedure Rule 16.5 a recorded vote was called for. This resulted as follows:

 

Those in favour of the Motion: Councillors Acton, Adshead, Baugh, Bennett, Bowker, Brophy, Brotherton, Coggins, Cordingley, Dillon, Duffield, Freeman, Harding, Hynes, Jarman, Jerrome, Lloyd, Longden, Malik, New, Patel, Procter, Ross, Slater, Stennett, Thomas, Walsh, A. Western, D. Western, Whitham, Whyte, Williams and Wright.

 

There were no votes against the Motion.

 

Those choosing to abstain: Councillors S.A. Anstee, S.K. Anstee, Dr. Barclay, Miss Blackburn, Boyes, Mrs. Bruer-Morris, Bunting, Butt, Carey, Chilton, Coupe, Mrs. Evans,  N. Evans, Mrs. Haddad, Holden, Hopps, Hyman, Lally, Lamb, Mitchell, Myers, Sharp, Shaw, Whetton, M. Young and Mrs. P. Young.

 

With the result of the vote being 33 in favour and 0 against, with 26 abstentions, the Motion was declared carried.

 

RESOLVED: That this motion recognises the harm caused by Bovine TB to cattle but believes the Government’s national Badger Cull is the wrong answer. Recent studies produced in an Independent Scientific Review in 2018 by Professor Sir Charles Godfray, state that the cull only has a modest impact on the disease. They’re encouraging the government to follow vaccination programmes and for farms to enforce better management programmes to combat the disease.

 

A 2014 report by an Independent Expert Panel of scientists appointed by Defra to assess the effectiveness and humaneness of the 2013 pilot badger culls, concluded:

 

  The culls did not even come close to reducing badger populations by the 70% needed, the minimum level deemed to have any significant effect in reducing Bovine Tuberculosis in cattle;

  Coverage of 70% of the land in the cull area, another essential criteria for having any significant effect, could not be confirmed making the cull ineffective;

  Up to 18% of badgers shot were still alive after 5 minutes and at risk of experiencing marked pain, meaning up to 422 badgers may have suffered marked pain.

 

This Council notes:

 

  That strong objections to badger culling have been expressed in the UK which resulted in a petition of over 100,000 people in 2017;

  Parliament overwhelmingly voted by 219 votes to one in March 2014 to halt the badger cull stating the trials had "decisively failed" - though the result was non-binding;

  That despite contradicting statements there is strong scientific evidence that culling badgers has not made a difference to the numbers of bovine TB;

  That leading scientists in this field agree that a cull will make little or no difference and that free shooting has not been scientifically tested anywhere and could even spread bovine TB;

  The National Trust and the 37 County Wildlife Trusts are not allowing the cull to take place on their land and are working with farmers and landowners on alternative methods.

 

This Council agrees to:

 

    Oppose the Government’s decision to cull badgers in England;

    Urge the Government to reconsider the decision as there is no scientific, economic or moral basis for culling;

    Remind the Government that badgers are a legally protected species and to kill them without knowing the full facts is a disgrace. There is now increasing public disquiet and disbelief at the violence and animal suffering associated with the badger cull;

     To not voluntarily allow badger culling on land in its ownership or any land tenanted.