Residents and Police are concerned at the increasing Deer population in the Curtis Mill Green area. This has resulted in Road Traffic Accidents, poaching and crop damage. Prior to any consideration of control, a population survey is required. This is a specialist operation and should be carried out by an authoritative organisation independent of the Borough. 

Members raised concerns regarding an independent study carried out on behalf of Essex County Council and whether or not that study had included Curtis Mill Green.  Officers advised they would look into this before embarking on their own research.

Following a full discussion Cllr Poppy MOVED and Cllr Tierney SECONDED a motion to amend the recommendation in the report as follows:

·         Delegated authority is given to the Director of Corporate Resources in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair to request quotations and appoint a suitable organisation to carry out a survey of the total deer population, age and sex. The information received would be reported back to a future committee on the optimal numbers that the area can hold with regard to the population health and the biodiversity of the area.

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED that:

·         Delegated authority is given to the Director of Corporate Resources in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair to request quotations and appoint a suitable organisation to carry out a survey of the total deer population, age and sex. The information received would be reported back to a future committee on the optimal numbers that the area can hold with regard to the population health and the biodiversity of the area.

Reasons for Recommendation

1.    For the sustainable future management of the Curtis Mill Green SSSI.