Issue - meetings

To debate the following motions which have been submitted with advance notice, in accordance with the Constitution (to be debated in the order submitted).

·       Topic: Badger Culling

o   Proposer: Councillor Ian Middleton

o   Seconder: TBC

Please note that the deadline to submit motions has passed. The deadline for Members to submit amendments to motions is noon on Thursday 15 October 2020. No amendments will be permitted after this deadline.

Any amendments submitted will be published as a supplement to the agenda on the afternoon of Friday 16 October 2020. Amendments for motions will be dealt with in the order submitted. 

On being put to the vote the motion was lost and subsequently fell

The Chairman advised that one motion had been submitted.  No amendments to the motion had been submitted and, in line with the Constitution, no amendments to the motion were now permitted.

Badger Culling

The Chairman invited Julia Hammett, Chair of Oxfordshire Badger Group, who had registered to speak on the motion to address Council.

It was proposed by Councillor Middleton and seconded by Councillor Copeland that the following motion be adopted.

“At the beginning of September, Natural England began licencing the culling of badgers in Oxfordshire.

Evidence suggests that only 5.7%of incidences of bovine tuberculosisis caused by badgers.  An independent review said that badger culling can only have a "modest" effect in reducing tuberculosis in cattle, and urged the government to accelerate the development of non-lethal controls and an increased focus on cow to cow transmission.

Whilst we need to support our farming communities in tackling Bovine TB, this council believes that the mass slaughter of badgers without a proven scientific rationale is unjustified. The extermination of a native species against the advice of major wildlife organisations is also incompatible with the council's environmental policies.

At least 30% of all badgers shot will be cage trapped and could instead be vaccinated which is a far cheaper, more humane, targeted and effective alternative.  Shooting is more than seven times more expensive, less controllable and can actually disperse an infected population over a wider range.

This council therefore resolves :

1.    That the leader write to DEFRA expressing our opposition to the badger cull across Oxfordshire.

2.    Not to permit the culling of badgers on any land owned or controlled by the council

3.    To instead allow and support participation in licenced badger vaccination programmes on council owned or controlled land where these are applied for

4.    To encourage all parish councils in Cherwell to take the same approach on their land”

No amendments to the motion having been proposed, the motion was debated as submitted and on being put to the vote was lost and therefore fell.