Whether it will consider giving local authorities the power in legislation to require owners or occupiers of land to take action to prevent…

Local authorities already have the powers, expertise and knowledge within their environmental health responsibilities to deal with the nuisance caused by seagulls. In addition, the Scottish Executive already issues General Licences to all local authorities to enable them to take action against Great Black-backed gulls, Lesser Black-backed gulls and Herring gulls in specified circumstances and for other gull species, individual licences can be sought from the Scottish Executive.
The Scottish Executive is considering the findings and recommendations of a research project
- Review of Urban Gulls and their Management in Scotland – completed for the Executive by BTO Scotland and the Centre for Conservation Science at the University of Stirling. My officials have met with Scotland’s local authorities to gauge the extent of the problems posed by nesting seagulls in urban areas, and have discussed both practical solutions they can use and whether additional legal powers are required to allow new measures to be introduced.
This research work is intended to provide a basis for new guidance to local authorities on best practice measures and I expect the findings to be published early in 2006.