A BADGER cull task group set up by the county council has recommended that Defra should be the body responsible for the cull.

The scrutiny task group, which was established in January this year, was established to look at the social and economic impact of the badger cull on members of the public as well as public bodies in Gloucestershire.

The task group has found that there has been a significant failing to define the role and responsibilities of public bodies during the cull and without clarity around where responsibility sits, the planning and coordination of the cull and the ability to respond to issues has been severely compromised.

The recommendations of the task group will be presented to a full council meeting at Shire Hall today, Wednesday.

County councillor Paul McMahon (Lab, West Dean) chairman of the task group said he very mush hopes the recommendations will be approved and then sent to Owen Paterson, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

“We will be very disappointed if he didn’t take on board any of our recommendations.”