Minute 610 (Cabinet Book 1 – Agenda Item 4 refers)

Called in by Councillors Ware-Lane and McDonald

The Committee considered Minute 610 of Cabinet held on 9th January 2018, which had been called in to Scrutiny.   This concerned the Notice of Motion calling on the Council to move the caged peafowl in the Chalkwell menagerie to a more humane home.  This had been proposed by Councillor Ware-Lane and seconded by Councillor Willis.

In response to a question about when an independent animal welfare charity would carry out an inspection, the Executive Councillor for Tourism, Culture and the Economy undertook to inform the Members of the Scrutiny Committee of the date(s) of the visit(s) from representatives as soon as it had been received.

Resolved:-

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:

“1.  That it be noted that the peafowl have been bred in captivity and are in space sufficient for them and are being cared for. They are regularly fed and watered, breeding and show no signs of distress and are in good health. The space that they occupy has been recently improved and the Council is considering further improvements to their surroundings.

2.  That the Council continue to review the situation before coming to a decision about the future of the Peafowl and will take advice from independent animal welfare charities, i.e. RSPCA and RSPB.”

Note:- This is an Executive Function

Executive Councillor:- Holland.

Notice of Motion attached.

At the meeting of Council held on 14^th December 2017, Members received a notice of motion calling on the Council to move the caged peafowl in the Chalkwell menagerie to a more humane home.

This had been proposed by Councillor Ware-Lane and seconded by Councillor Willis.

Resolved:

1.  That it be noted that the peafowl have been bred in captivity and are in space sufficient for them and are being cared for. They are regularly fed and watered, breeding and show no signs of distress and are in good health. The space that they occupy has been recently improved and the Council is considering further improvements to their surroundings.

2.  That the Council continue to review the situation before coming to a decision about the future of the Peafowl and will take advice from independent animal welfare charities, i.e. RSPCA and RSPB.

Reasons for Decision

To respond to the notice of motion.

Other Options

 None

Note:- This is an Executive Function

Eligible for call-in to Place Scrutiny Committee

Executive Councillor:- Holland

At the meeting of Council held on 14^th December 2017, Members received a notice of motion calling on the Council to move the caged peafowl in the Chalkwell menagerie to a more humane home.

This had been proposed by Councillor Ware-Lane and seconded by Councillor Willis.

Resolved:

1.  That it be noted that the peafowl have been bred in captivity and are in space sufficient for them and are being cared for. They are regularly fed and watered, breeding and show no signs of distress and are in good health. The space that they occupy has been recently improved and the Council is considering further improvements to their surroundings.

2.  That the Council continue to review the situation before coming to a decision about the future of the Peafowl and will take advice from independent animal welfare charities, i.e. RSPCA and RSPB.

Reasons for Decision

To respond to the notice of motion.

Other Options

 None

Note:- This is an Executive Function

Called-in to Place Scrutiny Committee

Executive Councillor:- Holland

Notice of Motion attached.

Resolved:

That, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 8.4, the following notice of motion be referred to Cabinet:

Caged Peafowl Birds

There are a number of peafowl caged at Chalkwell Park. These large birds are usually seen roaming free on large estates and zoological gardens, and I cannot recall another example where these birds are caged. The cage at Chalkwell Park is not nearly large enough, and as the photo shows, when the peacock displays his magnificent plumage there really is barely enough room for him to do so. These birds roam large estates and parks normally; there is no room for flight at all, and these birds can fly.

Aside from the smallness of their present enclosure, this is a sparsely decorated cage that is often dirty, and certainly gives every impression of neglect. These birds are often tormented by visitors and their pets, as if them being caged gives permission to this poor behaviour.

Earlier this summer two chicks were hatched. The peahen was trying to protect them, a difficult job in a small enclosure. One was killed by its sibling. The bowls for feeding and drinking are designed for adult birds, and are too high for chicks; how were the chicks meant to feed and drink?

A resident informed the Council about the chicks, and the dead one was removed.  However, since the Council were unaware up to that point that there were chicks then clearly accusations of neglect are appropriate.

This cage is the last vestige of the menagerie that once housed many animals such as bears and chimpanzees. Nowadays this would not be allowed. This is a throwback to an era when animals were not treated with respect. That peafowl are still caged is a disgrace to the town, a town that prides itself as being cultured.

Motion to Council:

We call upon the Council to uphold the highest standards with regards to animal rights.

To this end we want the four peafowl housed in the Chalkwell Park menagerie to be moved to somewhere more suitable.

There have been offers of new homes, and we call upon the Council to fully investigate these.  We urge the Council to expedite a move to a more humane home for the peafowl with utmost speed to end this example of animal cruelty.

Proposed by: Cllr Julian Ware-Lane

Seconded by: Cllr Charles Willis