Agenda item
A Tree For Every Citizen / Deer Cull Disclosure Request
We the undersigned petition Aberdeen City Council as follows:-
1. To immediately halt all planned deer culling in the city, at the very least until new population measurements can be taken. The SNH recent count shows a very low number of animals. We do not believe that having the small population which SNH guidelines recommend is viable for a healthy herd, we cite the previous larger number of animals on Tullos Hill (for instance) which existed for decades.
2. To explain how the SNH guidelines that are being used on Tullos, allowing for only 4-6 animals to be allowed to live on the hill, will result in a healthy herd and healthy gene pool. We remind the city that the SNH guidelines regarding deer are just that - guidelines, and there is no legal reason to follow them to the letter. The number of animals city wide, where possible by location, should be shared with the public.
3. To actively work with Police Scotland to detect and deter further illegal poaching, as happened on Tullos Hill in January of this year.
4. To erect deer crossing warning signs to motorists in strategic spots. The city seems to claim deer were indicated in 30 vehicle accidents recently, but no signs give motorists any warning of potential hot spots. Such signs are used to good effect elsewhere in the UK and throughout Europe. The city has indicated 'people ignore signs' - we feel that is not an acceptable way to try and prevent accidents. We note the city uses numerous signs directing motorists which are heeded.
5. To fully disclose all expenses the city has incurred in the last 8 years with regard to deer culling, tree planting, related consultants, fencing, herbicides, monies paid to the SNH, the Forestry Commission - any and all costs which planting during all phases of A Tree For Every Citizen scheme. The city is also to disclose any and all risk matrices created for the herbicides used (and indicate what chemicals were used) and the deer culling - or indicate whether such risk assessments were carried out.
The city was made aware of thousands of objections to the deer cull on Tullos Hill, which was carried out several years ago to aid the 'Tree For Every Citizen' scheme and to implement non-binding SNH guidelines. The city not only proceeded, but it insisted that the methodology it pursued was good value for money. Disclosing the requested information and carrying out the requested actions will determine the facts.”
Minutes:
The Committee had before it the following petition which had been submitted by Ms Suzanne Kelly:-
“A Tree For Every Citizen / Deer Cull Disclosure Request
We the undersigned petition Aberdeen City Council as follows:-
1. To immediately halt all planned deer culling in the city, at the very least until new population measurements can be taken. The SNH recent count shows a very low number of animals. We do not believe that having the small population which SNH guidelines recommend is viable for a healthy herd, we cite the previous larger number of animals on Tullos Hill (for instance) which existed for decades;
2. To explain how the SNH guidelines that are being used on Tullos, allowing for only 4-6 animals to be allowed to live on the hill, will result in a healthy herd and healthy gene pool. We remind the city that the SNH guidelines regarding deer are just that - guidelines, and there is no legal reason to follow them to the letter. The number of animals city wide, where possible by location, should be shared with the public;
3. To actively work with Police Scotland to detect and deter further illegal poaching, as happened on Tullos Hill in January of this year;
4. To erect deer crossing warning signs to motorists in strategic spots. The city seems to claim deer were indicated in 30 vehicle accidents recently, but no signs give motorists any warning of potential hot spots. Such signs are used to good effect elsewhere in the UK and throughout Europe. The city has indicated 'people ignore signs' - we feel that is not an acceptable way to try and prevent accidents. We note the city uses numerous signs directing motorists which are heeded; and
5. To fully disclose all expenses the city has incurred in the last 8 years with regard to deer culling, tree planting, related consultants, fencing, herbicides, monies paid to the SNH, the Forestry Commission - any and all costs which planting during all phases of A Tree For Every Citizen scheme. The city is also to disclose any and all risk matrices created for the herbicides used (and indicate what chemicals were used) and the deer culling - or indicate whether such risk assessments were carried out.
The city was made aware of thousands of objections to the deer cull on Tullos Hill, which was carried out several years ago to aid the 'Tree For Every Citizen' scheme and to implement non-binding SNH guidelines. The city not only proceeded, but it insisted that the methodology it pursued was good value for money. Disclosing the requested information and carrying out the requested actions will determine the facts.”
The Convener explained the process and invited the lead petitioner to present her case to the Committee.
Ms Kelly, the lead petitioner, spoke to the petition, by way of presentation, and advised that over 250 residents called for the following action: (a) the immediate cessation of the arbitrary deer culling in Aberdeen city – at a minimum until a count was undertaken; (b) the complete disclosure of all costs associated with the ‘Tree for Every Citizen scheme’ across the city; and (c) a comfort letter should be sought from Scottish Natural Heritage and the Forestry Commission to avoid any further taxpayer liability for this scheme. Ms Kelly spoke to each of the aforementioned requests wherein she advised of the background to and rationale for each.
Officers advised on the current position with deer culling and the Tree for Every Citizen scheme, explaining in particular that it was a statutory duty for all local authorities to produce a deer management plan and that Aberdeen City Council’s plan was currently being drafted and would be reported to a future meeting of the Communities, Housing and Infrastructure Committee. Officers confirmed that the plan would address the queries raised in the petition.
The Committee resolved:-
(i) in respect of point (1) of the petition, to note that a deer management plan, which would address these queries, would be submitted to the Council’s Communities, Housing and Infrastructure Committee later this year;
(ii) in respect of point (2) of the petition, to note that the deer management plan would estimate the population as a snapshot and assess the impact of deer on habitats, deer welfare (from weights, deformities etc), damage to crops, public safety etc and that this would also explain how officers implemented SNH guidelines;
(iii) in respect of point (3) of the petition, to note that officers continued to work with Police Scotland to detect and deter further illegal poaching and that this was an operational matter;
(iv) in respect of point (4) of the petition, to request officers to report on deer crossing warning signs to a future meeting of the Communities, Housing and Infrastructure Committee;
(v) in respect of point (5) of the petition, to request officers to provide the information requested to the petitioner; and
(vi) to thank the petitioner for her attendance and presentation.