Agenda item

Council were requested to consider the recommendation of the Corporate and Partnerships Overview and Scrutiny Committee following consideration of a Notice of Motion which had been referred to it by Council at its meeting held on 19 July 2023.  The recommendations of that Committee were that there be no further action in response to the Notice of Motion  and appeared at page 378 of the agenda. 

The original motion that was to be debated is as detailed below:

“North Yorkshire Council does not allow illegal activity on our land. As cited by Chief Supt Matt Longman, the National Police Chief’s Council lead on foxhunting, the 2004 Hunting Act is not working effectively and illegal hunting is still common practice. Under the act, hunting mammals with hounds is banned but trail hunts using the scent of animals are allowed to take place. Across the country, hunts are using trail hunts as a loophole to carry on hunting foxes and other animals. So called terrier men are frequently present with shovels and terriers, while scent trails are often not present.

There have even been online sessions that tell people how to avoid being caught by using trail hunting as a smokescreen for the hunting of foxes.  The Hunting Act is unworkable and leaves the police caught in the middle of the hunting debate.

Public confidence is being eroded.

A recent FOI request to NYC asking if trail hunting takes place on council owned land produced a reply stating that “we are not aware of any trail hunting activity that takes place on council owned land”.

A similar response from the Exec when asked same.

North Yorkshire is the largest county in England. There are thirteen Hunts in North Yorkshire according to “northyorkshirehorse” and the BHSA (British Hounds Sports Assoc): Derwent, Sinnington, York & Ainsty North, Bedale, Bilsdale, Cleveland, Goathland & Glaisdale, Hurworth, Middleton, Staintondale, Highmoor Bloodhounds, West of Yore, York & Ainsty South.

This council has a duty to uphold the law. We must be pro-active. In order to guarantee the safety of North Yorkshire’s wildlife I present the following motion to council.

We call upon Council:

“This council resolves to ban trail hunting, exempt hunting, hound exercise and hunt meets outright across all council land where legally possible, including any NEW tenancies where there are positive covenants attached to the land that currently require the council as owner to allow trail hunting events and formal gatherings.”

We request that the Chairman considers that the matter be debated today at Council without being referred to the Executive or a relevant committee.  This is because the hunting season is September to March and therefore this motion requires debating at the July full council as to do so in November will potentially put the lives of wildlife at risk.”

Proposer – Councillor Rich Maw

Seconder – Councillor Arnold Warneken

The motion was moved by Councillor Rich Maw and Seconded by Councillor Arnold Warneken.

The motion was then debated. 

An amendment to the final two paragraphs of the motion was then moved by Councillor Andy Brown and seconded by Councillor David Noland.

‘‘This council resolves to ban trail hunting, exempt hunting, hound exercise and to require hunts to use non-animal scent when trail hunting at hunt meets outright across all council land where legally possible, including any NEW tenancies where there are positive covenants attached to the land that currently require the council as owner to allow trail hunting events and formal gatherings.

The use of non-animal scents will keep wildlife safe whilst allowing the hunting experience to continue.”

We request that the Chairman considers that the matter be debated today at Council without being referred to the Executive or a relevant committee. This is because the hunting season is September to March and therefore this motion requires debating at the July full council as to do so in November will potentially put the lives of wildlife at risk.’

The amendment was then debated.

On a vote being taken on the amendment 27 Members voted for the motion, 47 voted against and there were 6 abstentions.

The amendment therefore fell and a vote was taken on the original motion as moved.

On a vote being taken on the original motion 26 Members voted for the motion, 44 voted against and there were 9 abstentions. The motion therefore fell.