Issue - meetings

Arising from a report of the Head of Housing and Property Services, the Managing the Environment Policy Development Group had recommended that the current policy and processes be adopted subject to:

·         the word ‘determining’ being changed to ‘processing’ within the table at 6.1

·         the wording ‘refund fee’ should read ‘consider refund’

·         a flat fee of £350 should apply to all applicants with no discount given for those on benefits

Arising from a report of the Head of Housing and Property Services, the Managing the Environment Policy Development Group had recommended that the current policy and processes be adopted subject to:

·         the word ‘determining’ being changed to ‘processing’ within the table at 6.1

·         the wording ‘refund fee’ should read ‘consider refund’

·         a flat fee of £350 should apply to all applicants with no discount given for those on benefits

The Cabinet Member for the Environment outlined the contents of the report stating that the policy provided the authority to determine complaints by the owners/occupiers of domestic property adversely affected by evergreen hedges over two metres high.

Consideration was given to the fee for determining a complaint

RESOLVED that the revised policy as amended be approved and that delegated authority be given to the Head of Housing and Property Services to review the fees on an annual basis.

(Proposed by Cllr N V Davey and seconded by Cllr  R L Stanley)

Note: - *Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.

To receive a report from the Head of Housing and Property Services reviewing the existing High Hedges policy.

The Group had before it a report * from the Head of Housing and Property Services regarding High Hedges.

The Operations Manager outlined the contents of the report explaining that the law giving Local Councils power to deal with complaints about high hedges came into force on the 1^st June 2005 and was contained in the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003.  This allowed local Councils to determine complaints by the owners/occupiers of domestic property adversely affected by evergreen hedges over two meters high.

The Officer informed the Group that one high hedge intervention had taken place between 2012 and 2016. Mid Devon charged the same fee as neighbouring authorities but gave a discount for those on benefits, which was not given by the other authorities. The process to be carried out was clearly identified within the policy.

Discussion took place regarding:

·         The fees charged and whether a discount for those on benefits should be applied;

·         Mediation and the cost of this which had to be paid by the complainant.

It was AGREED that the word ‘determining’ be changed to ‘processing’ within the table at 6.1.

It was AGREED that within the flow clart the wording ‘refund fee’ should read ‘consider refund’.

It was RECOMMENDED that a flat fee of £350 should apply to all applicants with no discount given for those on benefits.

(Proposed by Cllr R Evans and seconded by Cllr J D Squire)

It was RECOMMENDED to the Cabinet that the authority continues to adopt the current High Hedge policy and processes outlined in Annex A subject to the changes agreed above.

(Proposed by the Chairman)

Note:- * Report previously circulated and attached to Minutes.