Trail hunting in Cheshire West is to be put under the microscope as the council looks to put together a cross-party group to examine the controversial activity.

Next week's cabinet meeting (Wednesday, January 13) sees a proposal to establish the group — which will be chaired by deputy leader Cllr Karen Shore and feature two additional Labour members, and one councillor each from the Conservative, Liberal Democrat, and Independent groups — following full-council approval to look into trail hunting in December.

At the whole council summit, representatives backed Cllr Matt Bryan's motion to 'develop a policy' on the issue.

At the meeting, Cllr Bryan said: "We have a duty as a council to enforce protection on our land but also the flora and fauna on it.

"Recently we have seen videos of the national hunt advising hunt masters to use the legal loophole of trail hunting to go about their hunting business.

"In the last season locally, Cheshire monitors collated 21 reports of suspected illegal activity within Cheshire West… and included a report of a pet Labrador being attacked by 30 beagles."

However, the motion was opposed by a number of Conservatives, who argued that the authority's time was better spent on other matters during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cllr Hugo Deynem, who represents Sandstone, encompassing Kingsley, Alvanley and Manley, said: "I cannot see any logical or practical reason to tie up cabinet in such meaningless work on developing policy on a matter we don't even have evidence of. 

"I should hardly need to remind Labour members that we are in the middle of a pandemic."

The cabinet motion will therefore begin the process of 'confirming the terms of reference, considering the evidence and legal position, [and] to inform the development of a policy'.

It is hoped that the group will report back to cabinet by 'Spring 2021'.

CWAC's cabinet will meet online at 10am on Wednesday, January 13.