Priority Action Area

Desired Outcome

Strategic Link

Council Plan Priority

Env priority

Regulatory Services

Priority

Funding in place and estimate

NYC Corporate Policy: Support thriving places and empowered communities that live, work, visit and do business in North Yorkshire

NYC Regulatory Services

North Yorkshire Councils (NYC) Urban Gull Strategy focusses on measures that enable co-existence through considered management. This is consistent with the previously agreed objectives of:

•To promote and sustain a healthy population of all gull species.

•To provide and sustain a clean and safe place for residents of the coastal areas.

•To identify and implement suitable and sustainable measures to enable gulls and the public to successfully co-exist in the coastal areas.

The UGS has identified a number of short-, medium- and long-term actions which NYC deems are necessary to support and fulfil the objectives described above.

Short Term Actions:

Gull Proof Sacks:

NYC Waste Operations Service will seek to distribute gull proof sacks to those residential premises which are on a bag service. In addition commercial premises who pay for commercial collections (including holiday lets) will be offered the option to purchase a gull proof sack. Domestic occupiers will be contacted to advise them of the need to present waste only in gull proof bags.

Education Campaign:

Feeding the gulls:

NYC will engage with the residents, businesses and visitors to the coastal town areas using a variety of media, with a clear message that feeding of gulls (primarily Herring Gulls) is not appropriate.

Education of businesses and commercial operators – waste control:

Education of owners and operators of commercial businesses will take place concerning the need to contain and control their waste (called duty of care) in commercial bins.

Seasonal Guano Jetting Hotspots:

NYC Street Scene Service will continue to carry out seasonable guano jetting hotspots where it is deemed appropriate and necessary. A review of sites will be undertaken, and further work will be undertaken to determine whether alternative guano controls can be implemented or actioned.

Gulls proofing measures on private land/buildings:

NYC will engage with landowners and agents where gulls are nesting, and which pose a serious public health and safety risk. Appropriate action will be taken based on a public health risk assessment. Proofing only in place to protect public from most serious risk to health. This test would align with Natural England’s licensing criteria which is a very high bar for action over Gulls.

Proofing measures on council owned land would receive the same public health risk assessment

Increased use of Gull proof sacks will mean a reduction in food sources available to Herring gulls and help prevent the adaptive behavior which encourages the gulls to target human food and waste sources. Will also result in less litter and waste being strewn across streets where currently black sacks are ripped open.

Engaging and encouraging the public not to feed the gulls, explaining the implications of doing so will mean a reduction in food sources available to Herring gulls and help prevent the adaptive behavior which encourages the gulls to target human food and waste sources. Will also result in less litter and waste being strewn across streets where currently black sacks are ripped open.

Effective control of commercial waste including keeping waste secure and euro bins lids closed will prevent an attraction to gulls and improve the amenity of the street the commercial bins are located on.

High pedestrian routes and public realm areas will be protected and maintained in a clean and safe manner during gull breeding seasons.

Where gull proving measures are introduced on building appropriate selection must be undertaken. This is to ensure all selected measures are sustainable, effective and can be maintained. Minimum impact on grade listed buildings and must be in keeping with the locality. Greatest ‘at risk’ pedestrian routes will be protected and will require ongoing monitoring. Lower at-risk areas will not require such monitoring and reduced risk if birds to become entrapped from unnecessary and poorly installed proving

Funding currently estimates only – see individual actions below

Not currently in place- estimated to be £30K for a period of 18-24 months for a total of 5,000 units

£15K depending on the scale and extent of media lines used

BAU – Environmental Enforcement Teams working alongside Environmental Protection Team

£400 per day with total seasonal cost of £50K which is currently not fully funded.

BAU - Environmental Protection Team. Statutory Notices would be served on property owners if the public health test is met and they would be required to carry out the proofing work. The Council can carry out Works in Default and recharge costs to the property.

The relevant building/asset owner/Council department will be responsible for arranging work.

Summer 2026

Medium Term Actions:

Audit and upgrade of gull signage:

NYC will undertake an audit of existing signage concerning gulls and will undertake a schedule work to replace and upgrade them as appropriate. New messaging and designs will be used.

Waste and litter enforcement:

Domestic and commercial waste enforcement where there is evidence that waste has not been securely controlled or incorrect presentation of waste for collection. Waste duty of care enforcement in respect to overflowing bins, insecure waste or waste incorrectly presented for collection. This will include serving statutory notices and use of fixed penalty notices. Also, street litter control notices where specific premises are linked to litter sources.

Kittiwake Artificial Nesting Structure (ANS)- Feasibility study:

NYC will determine if a kittiwake alternative nesting structure can be constructed at the terrace in front of the Grand Hotel through a feasibility study

Audit of litter bins in gull hot spots:

NYC will undertake an audit of a litter bins in Gull (primarily Herring Gull) to determine if they need upgrading to prevent access to the Gulls.

Appropriately located and clear signage can provide direct and effective messaging the public not to feed the gulls explaining the implications of doing so will mean a reduction in food sources available to Herring gulls and help prevent the adaptive behavior which encourages the gulls to target human food and waste sources. Current signage is outdated and in many locations have become dilapidated or unreadable. The current messaging installed circ 2016-2019 “stop attacks never feed the gulls #your food not their food” does not deliver a clear “do not feed the gulls” messaging.

The use of enforcement will re-enforce the message that NYC expects residents and businesses to use the appropriate receptacle(s) either the gull proof sacks or keeping commercial waste secure in closed bins. Will reduce available food sources to gulls and reduce waste spillages and litter accumulation.

A feasibility study will identify the total cost and barriers to building an ANS in the initial scoping document. Constructing such a structure will be challenging not only from a financing position but also in design and deliverability.

Ensures that the correct bin type is in use and that they are suitable and sufficient to prevent an attraction to gulls

Bins in place for Spring 2027

Total costs unknown but total replacement of signage installed previously in 2017 was £3,086 plus installation costs -total costs of action currently unknown (audit of existing signs required). Provisional budget now of £5,000 proposed.

BAU – Environmental Enforcement Teams working alongside Environmental Protection Team

Cost met by grant application from CA of circ. £30,000 for planning, design and scope -Regeneration and Delivery Team

Option of retrofitting new tops to litter bins at a cost of £45 per bin or 30 new ones for £19,500 per unit (information provided by Harry Briggs)

Autumn 2026

By summer 2026

Autumn 2026

Long Term Actions:

The NYC Local plan implements conditions for management of Gulls:

The Local Plan is due for implementation circ. 2030. It is an opportunity to incorporate policies for the strategic management of gulls across coastal areas. Conditions and policies are currently being proposed for inclusion in the Local Plan. This includes locations where new buildings should be designed to prevent nesting and locations where designs may incorporate provisions for nesting locations.

Kittiwake Alternative Nesting Structure (ANS) constructed:

Subject to planning consent, funding and deliverability of a Kittiwake ANS could be constructed and would form part of the overall UGS in helping to provide alternative nesting locations for Kittiwakes.

UGS- review

It is anticipated that the UGS would be reviewed to determine the success of steps undertaken within this timeframe.

Using the planning process to manage and control gulls at a strategic level will result in effect placement and toleration of nesting in appropriate locations in new buildings, whilst preventing nesting in less appropriate locations may reduce the overall need for reactive interventions -cleaning etc.

The construction of an ANS will allow NYC to offset any impact of proofing a building such as the Grand Hotel and other nest sensitive sites ensuring that the biodiversity duties are fulfilled.

A review of the schemes introduced in the period 2026-2030.

BAU – Planning Policy supported by Environmental Protection Service.

Between £100K - £2M dependent on design-

Regeneration and Delivery Team to seek funding or alternative thirds party sources

This is a very wide estimate to allow for design changes.

BAU – Environmental Protection Team supported by other departments.

By 2030