Agenda and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, the following interests were declared:

Councillor P K Jones – prejudicial – Minute No. 5 – Member of the RSPB and withdrew from meeting as a Panel Member, but with the agreement of the Panel remained to make representations to the Panel on the subject of gull nuisance.

AGREED that Councillor M H Jones be elected Chair Pro Tem.

Councillor M H Jones (Chair Pro Tem) presided.

In accordance with the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011, no declarations of Whipped Votes or Party Whips were declared.

Questions must relate to matters on the open part of the Agenda of the meeting, and will be dealt with within a 10 minute period

There were no public questions.

a)       Public Concerns.

b)       Report from Cabinet Member for Environment & Infrastructure

          Management.

c)       Information from Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

Following referral by the Scrutiny Programme Committee, the Panel dealt with a public request for scrutiny in relation to concerns about gull nuisance in Swansea.  

The concerns brought to the attention of scrutiny centred on the persistent nuisance experienced by residents in Mayals and          behaviour of people feeding gulls, and detrimental effect on residents’ well-being, health and safety within their communities.

The Panel considered the following perspectives on the issue which were discussed:

·       Public concerns outlined by Mr & Mrs Slater (Mayals Friends & Residents Group).

·       Report of the Cabinet Member for Environment & Infrastructure Management, Councillor Mark Thomas, which accounted for the Council’s position on this matter, and contributions of the Council’s Head of Housing & Public Health, Mark Wade, and Team Leader – Pollution Control & Private Sector Housing, Tom Price.

·       Information from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, and supporting views from Mr John Roach and Councillor Peter Jones

The Panel debated the issues raised, discussed possible solutions and considered what action(s) may be necessary to address the problem across Swansea. This included actions to discourage public feeding and improve food waste storage and disposal.

AGREED that the Panel write to the Cabinet Member for Environment & Infrastructure Management on its findings and recommendations on the issue of gull nuisance.