Geese question remains unanswered

Cr Paul Belcher.

A COUNCILLOR has repeated his request to see a copy of the complaint that led to last year's culling of birds at Tynwald Park.

In response to an outcry over the lingering deaths of several bird species last June, a council spokesman said the cull had been conducted in response to a number of complaints from the community about excessive bird droppings and ongoing damage to the Tynwald Park playing field.

Subsequent investigations found no wrongdoing by council staff but recommended action against an independent contractor for alleged breaches of the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemical (Control of Use) Act 1995 and the Wildlife Regulations 2010.

During councillor questions at last month's Derwent Valley Council meeting, Cr Paul Belcher said two months had passed since he was told he could have a copy of the original complaint that led to the decision to remove the birds by poisoning.

"At the March meeting I asked about the geese cull at Tynwald Park and was told by the acting general manager, Mr Barrett, that I would have the complaint that come to council given to me, and why we acted on that complaint," Cr Belcher said. "It's now been two months and I still haven't received that, and I just wanted to see if I can still get the copy of that complaint that come to council, thanks Mr Mayor," he said.

The mayor, Cr Ben Shaw, asked Cr Belcher if he would like the matter followed up. "I'm not aware of former acting manager Barrett's intention of how he was getting that to you, and certainly haven't been involved in any correspondence, so would you like me to follow that up with the executive management team and the current acting GM, or wait until the new GM starts on Monday?"

Cr Belcher said he was happy to wait until the new general manager started work, but reminded the mayor that Mr Barrett had said he would provide a copy of the complaint and information about why the council acted the way it did, in response to the complaint about birds at Tynwald Park.

Cr Shaw said he remembered the matter being raised. "I'm just saying that I wasn't aware of any correspondence, either negative or positive, so I'll chase that up, obviously Brian [Barrett] isn't in that chair any more but I can chase it up if you like on your behalf with the new general manager, but also I know that you will probably be catching up with the new general manager next week as well, so you might like to raise it."