Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence given at this meeting.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Planning and Development Policy Development and Review Panel held on 3 November 2015.

It was AGREED that the minutes of the Planning and Development Policy Development and Review Panel held on 3 November 2015 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

To receive any declarations of interest from members in accordance with Standing Orders and the Council’s Code of Conduct and disclosures of advice or directions received from Group Leaders or Political Groups, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.

There were no declarations of interest made at this meeting.

To receive any deputations of which notice has been lodged.

There were no deputations made at this meeting.

To consider a report by the Director of Planning and Development , which gives a preliminary review of the Panel’s work programme for 2015/16 and draft work programme for 2016/17.

The Panel considered a report by the Director of Planning and Regulation which reviewed the Panel’s work programme for 2015/16 and gave initial consideration to the work programme for 2016/17.

The Director of Planning and Regulation addressed the Panel and invited members to put forward suggestions for the work programme for 2016/17.

Members suggested that an item on the forthcoming Fareham Town Centre Regeneration strategy be added to next year’s work programme as this is planned to go out for consultation in the summer. The Director of Planning and Regulation suggested that that he meets with the Chairman and Executive Member for Planning and Development to discuss and agree on which parts of the regeneration project it may be appropriate for the Panel to be involved with.

It was also noted that the wording on page 7 of the report be amended in paragraph 12 to say ‘Executive Member for Planning and Development’ not ‘Executive Member of Planning and Regulation’.

It was AGREED that:-

(a)  subject to the amendments to the wording on page 7, that the Panel approve the work programme for 2015/16; and

(b)  members consider items to be included in the 2016/17 work programme which will be discussed at the 1 March 2016 meeting.

To consider a report by the Director of Planning and Development on a performance review of the tree service and strategy action plan.

The Panel considered a report by the Director of Planning and Regulation on an annual update of the Tree Strategy Action Plan and received a presentation on the key issues within the report by the Principal Tree Officer.

The presentation outlined the various work and responsibilities that is undertaken by the tree team:

·         Tree Safety Inspections

·         Survey of Housing trees, including the proactive planting of trees on housing land

·         Tree Planting and Maintenance, including resilience planting for the future

·         Tree Preservation Order Schedule

·         Tree Service Requests

·         Ancient Line Pollards

·         Wickham Road Cemetery

·         Customer Service Improvements following the Vanguard Intervention in Planning

·         Coldeast Trees and Woodland

·         Tree Wardens

·         Tree Health – Pests and Diseases

Members raised concerns regarding the significant adoption of trees and woodland at the former Coldeast Hospital site and enquired whether there were sufficient resources available within the Tree Service (and other relevant Council services) to be able to maintain the current level of service with the consistent increase in the number of trees that they are responsible for. The Principal Tree Officer addressed the Panel and confirmed that he is confident that it is still manageable for the Tree Service and he felt that it was in the interest of Fareham residents that public trees and woodland are adopted by the Council.

The Panel asked for clarification on the current procurement of contractors used to fell Fareham Borough Council trees and whether it was viable to bring this in-house. The Principal Tree Officer confirmed that there had recently been a change in the procurement process for tree work, with a Hampshire wide procurement scheme being used with very competitive rates and specialist skills. He also informed the Panel that from an insurance perspective it would be costly to the Council to insure and train their own in-house tree surgeons.

The presentation outlined plans for the Council to adopt a Tree Warden scheme, to use local volunteers to assist the Tree and Conservation Officers. The Panel agreed that this was an excellent idea that would need to be closely monitored. The Principal Tree Officer informed members that they would initially set up a small pilot scheme and report back to the Panel on the progress next year.

It was AGREED that:-

(a)  the Principal Tree Officer be thanked for his presentation; and

(b)  the Panel supports the Tree Strategy Action Plan; and

(c)  that an update for members on the Tree Warden Scheme be brought to the Panel at the 10 January 2017 meeting.