Agenda item

Arising from a report of the Director of Operations, the Environment Policy Development Group had recommended that  the following be recommended to Council: subject to the changes identified below the Parks and Open Spaces, 10 year Management Plans and Design Principles be approved:

a)    The Council should look to increase the volume of wild flower, natural grassland meadows and slow growing grasses in its open spaces.

b)    Where shrub beds have become overgrown, a new style of specimen planting will be used to replace traditional shrub bed areas.

c)    The management of tree stock will be set in the context of the 10 year management plan for that open space. There should be a presumption on the use of native trees as the prominent choice within any landscape design.

d)    Subject to the addition of the word ‘replace’ at 7.2.3: When considering maintenance of the built environment the Remove – Reduce – Repair approach outlined in paragraphs 7.2.1 to 7.2.4 above should be applied.

e)    Play England – Making Space for Play should be adopted by Mid Devon District Council as its formal reference for best practice in the design and management of play areas.

f)     Subject to the addition of the wording ‘or a suitable barrier provided’ after the word ‘fence’ Play areas must be fenced where fencing is the most appropriate means to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of children. E.g. to physically separate play areas from roads and/or cycle paths.

g)    When work is undertaken to remove fences or other items, such as benches, the work must be undertaken in a safe manner ensuring no residual hazards.

h)   Headstone runners should be used to define and structure new burial plots.

i)     Subject to the removal of the sentence: ‘Environmental areas should be generated in the old sections of the Council’s cemeteries and biodiversity actively promoted in naturalised habitats.’  At all times War Graves shall be tended and maintained with clear access routes made available.

Arising from a * report of the Director of Operations, the Environment Policy Development Group had recommended that the following be recommended to Council: subject to the changes identified below the Parks and Open Spaces, 10 year Management Plans and Design Principles be approved:

a)    The Council should look to increase the volume of wild flower, natural grassland meadows and slow growing grasses in its open spaces.

b)    Where shrub beds have become overgrown, a new style of specimen planting will be used to replace traditional shrub bed areas.

c)    The management of tree stock will be set in the context of the 10 year management plan for that open space. There should be a presumption on the use of native trees as the prominent choice within any landscape design.

d)    Subject to the addition of the word ‘replace’ at 7.2.3: When considering maintenance of the built environment the Remove – Reduce – Repair approach outlined in paragraphs 7.2.1 to 7.2.4 above should be applied.

e)    Play England – Making Space for Play should be adopted by Mid Devon District Council as its formal reference for best practice in the design and management of play areas.

f)     Subject to the addition of the wording ‘or a suitable barrier provided’ after the word ‘fence’ Play areas must be fenced where fencing is the most appropriate means to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of children. E.g. to physically separate play areas from roads and/or cycle paths.

g)    When work is undertaken to remove fences or other items, such as benches, the work must be undertaken in a safe manner ensuring no residual hazards.

h)   Headstone runners should be used to define and structure new burial plots.

i)     Subject to the removal of the sentence: ‘Environmental areas should be generated in the old sections of the Council’s cemeteries and biodiversity actively promoted in naturalised habitats.’  At all times War Graves shall be tended and maintained with clear access routes made available.

The Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment outlined the contents of the report stating that the Policy Development Group had fully discussed the contents of the report and that 9 recommendations as amended (in italics) had been put forward as recommendations to the Cabinet.

Consideration was given to:

·         The Play England – Making Space for Play document and that it contained very useful guidance which should be adopted

·         Wild flowers and slow growing grasses

·         The maintenance of shrubberies on roundabouts

·         The need to protect trees in open spaces

The Director of Operations provided answers to questions posed in public question time and issues raised during discussions:  he stated that with regard to the Tree Charter, he would discuss this further with the Planning Department; healthy trees would only be removed in the context of the tree management plan by replacing one for one.  The grassland issue was a subjective opinion, the introduction of wild flower areas had been very positive and slow growing grass areas would be maintained.  The roundabouts at the entrance to Tiverton were Devon County Council owned land and were seen as high speed areas, therefore health and safety issues had to be considered when it came to maintenance of those areas, he therefore wished to bring forward a proposal that was pleasing to the eye but that would not require road closures for maintenance purposes.

(Proposed by the Chairman)

Note:  Report previously copy attached to minutes.