Updates, Avian Flue, East Riding Local Plan and The Circular Economy

Avian Flu.

Message from ERYC.

Since November 2024, we've had seven outbreaks of Avian Influenza in East Riding. The image below shows the current active case in our area. You can find more details on these cases here. 

Currently, all of East Riding is in a regional Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ). This means all bird keepers must enhance biosecurity measures and house their birds to protect them from bird flu. This applies to pet birds, commercial flocks, and backyard birds. These measures are crucial to prevent further outbreaks. Additional measures are required within the disease control zones around the outbreaks. You can use the DEFRA Avian Influenza Interactive Map to check if a location is within a control zone.

Since October 1, 2024, everyone in Great Britain who keeps:

• Any number of poultry (whether as pets or a hobby)
• Captive birds not kept fully housed in a dwelling (or another indoor structure) with no access to open air must register their details with the Animal and Plant Health Agency. You can register here. If you have access to noticeboards, please display the attached poster.
• This measure has allowed a revised approach to foot patrols. Instead of visiting or contacting every premises within the declared zone, the Council will use a media campaign to raise awareness of the restrictions and the need to register if any bird keepers have not already done so. If you have a social media account, please promote the Facebook message on the outbreak. https://www.facebook.com/eastridingcouncil/posts/pfbid02sgthPs8DcxJz5moTogpJyo517mX6MXfSoFoBVRChEMyq4aMPCGuwYnBc4CPsDhfql

The Council will support the national plan by placing highway signs at the 10km zone boundary to inform people they are entering an area with animal disease restrictions. Posters will be put up within the 3km zone to inform bird keepers of the requirements, and Council Animal Health Officers will have a presence in the area to monitor compliance. 

• For your information, Avian Influenza primarily affects birds. The UK Health Security Agency states that the risk to public health is very low. The Food Standards Agency assures that avian influenza poses a very low food safety risk. Properly cooked poultry and eggs are safe to eat. More information is available on the Government's website.

The national contingency plan involves APHA humanely culling affected poultry on infected premises. No healthy birds are culled, but restrictions are placed on poultry and captive bird keepers in the control zones.

Attached is the declaration with all requirements for this zone. In brief, for those in the 3km protection zone:

• Keep poultry and other captive birds housed.
• Do not move poultry, other captive birds, or mammals to or from premises where birds are kept, except under licence.
• Record individuals visiting premises where birds are kept.
• Ensure appropriate biosecurity measures are in place.

There is a lot of further information on the Government's website: Bird Flu: Avian Influenza Latest Situation in England.

The restrictions around outbreaks are likely to remain for at least the next 6 weeks, but the Regional Prevention Zone is likely to remain in place until the risk of new cases has reduced, which may be several months.

Due to the current frequency of new cases, we will post updates on social media and the ERYC corporate website instead of sending frequent emails.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sent on behalf of,

Richard Hawksworth

Senior Emergency Planning Officer

East Riding Local Plan Update 2020-2039 Inspector's Final Report on the Examination of the Local Plan Update On 30th December 2024, the Council received the Inspector's Final Report on the Examination of the East Riding Local Plan Update, marking the end of the Plan's Examination in Public. The Inspector’s Report concludes that, subject to a number of Main Modifications set out in an Appendix to the report, the East Riding Local Plan Update 2020-2039 is sound, legally compliant and capable of adoption. A copy of the Report can be accessed on the Council’s website at the following link, alongside a timeline of the Local Plan Update's preparation: https://www.eastriding.gov.uk/planning-permission-and-building-control/planning-policy-and-the-local-plan/local-plan-update/local-plan-update-preparation-and-adoption/ (see Appendix 6). The Local Plan Update will now be considered at the meeting of the Cabinet on Tuesday 25th February 2025. The Cabinet will review the Local Plan Update alongside the Report and will be asked to request its adoption at the next Full Council meeting on Wednesday 2nd April 2025. Once adopted, the Local Plan Update will replace the current East Riding Local Plan which was adopted in 2016. The Cabinet meeting agenda, containing the Local Plan Update Cabinet Report, will be available from 18th February. To access the meeting agendas, click here.   If you require further guidance or no longer wish to be informed of progress with the Local Plan, please contact the Forward Planning team by emailing forward.planning@eastriding.gov.uk or telephoning (01482) 391701. The Yorkshire Circular Lab is supporting the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to hear from citizens from the Yorkshire and Humber region for the preparation of a new government strategy on circular economy. They will host two workshops in February 2025; inviting the views of diverse people. An expression of interest form will be used so that a representative group can be invited to participate. Please support this project in reaching a diverse range of people. Circular economy expertise is not required. We need a mix of people including participants who are entirely new to the subject and / or living in disadvantaged communities. Please help this project by reaching out to your networks by email and social media. Closing date for expressions of interest is 30 January 2025. Read more about the project on their website.