That this Council:
(a) opposes the Government’s decision to cull badgers in England;
(b) is aware of strong objections to badger culling in the UK which resulted in a petition of over 150,000 people;
(c) notes that Parliament voted against the cull in October 2012 with a huge majority of 147 votes to 28;
(d) regrets the u-turn taken by Government to cull between 70-95% of the country’s badgers with over 7,500 condemned in pilot studies in West Gloucestershire and West Somerset set to go ahead this summer;
(e) acknowledges that despite contradicting statements there is strong scientific evidence that culling badgers will not make a difference to the numbers of bovine TB;
(f) notes 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 in the short term as badgers move around more;
(g) reminds the Government that badgers are a legally protected species and to kill them without knowing the full facts is a disgrace;
(h) will not voluntarily allow badger culling on land in its ownership if the cull is extended after the pilot scheme; and
(i) urges the Government to reconsider the decision as there is no scientific, economic or moral basis for culling.
Minutes:
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Badger Culling |
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RESOLVED: On the Motion of Councillor John Robson, seconded by Councillor Harry Harpham, that this Council:- |
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(a) |
opposes the Government’s decision to cull badgers in England; |
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(b) |
is aware of strong objections to badger culling in the UK which resulted in a petition of over 150,000 people; |
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(c) |
notes that Parliament voted against the cull in October 2012 with a huge majority of 147 votes to 28; |
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(d) |
regrets the u-turn taken by Government to cull between 70-95% of the country’s badgers with over 7,500 condemned in pilot studies in West Gloucestershire and West Somerset set to go ahead this summer; |
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(e) |
acknowledges that despite contradicting statements there is strong scientific evidence that culling badgers will not make a difference to the numbers of bovine TB; |
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(f) |
notes 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 in the short term as badgers move around more; |
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(g) |
reminds the Government that badgers are a legally protected species and to kill them without knowing the full facts is a disgrace; |
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(h) |
will not voluntarily allow badger culling on land in its ownership if the cull is extended after the pilot scheme; and |
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(i) |
urges the Government to reconsider the decision as there is no scientific, economic or moral basis for culling. |