Agenda and minutes

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In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City & County of Swansea, no interests were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Development Cabinet Advisory Committee held on 21 September 2016 be approved and signed as a correct record.

The Tree Services Manager provided an update, which focused on the following:

·                 The “aims” of a Tree Policy (Council Tree Stock).  This would follow on from the “introduction” which had been discussed at the last meeting;

·                 Figures of and information on surveys carried out in respect of the number of:

·         Departments with trees on their land;

·         Other Departments that deal with trees and woodland issues;

·                 Sections 5(2) – 5(5) of the “Draft Document”.  It should be noted that the text highlighted in the document would be confirmed in due course.

Councillors asked various questions of the officer, who responded accordingly.

Alan Webster, Landscape Assistant (Arboriculturalist) from the Strategic Planning and Natural Environment Section would also be attending the next meeting.

RESOLVED that:

1)       The “Aims” section be approved;

2)       The text highlighted in points 5(2) – 5(5) be confirmed;

3)       The Committee focus on the Draft Document from point 5(6) Stump Grinding at the next meeting;

4)       The Officer to provide examples of the various complaints in relation to trees received and how they were dealt with at the next meeting.

The Group Leader Traffic & Highway Network Management reported on Guidance for works on the Highway and the Adoption of New Infrastructure document which would provide information to developers on the highway aspects of pre-planning application guidance and introduce a sliding scale of fees for highway adoption agreements.

He outlined background information as to why the guidance document had been created in order to assist developers comply with the Highways Act, as part of planning and delivering their developments.

The Committee discussed the current number of un-adopted sites in Swansea which resulted in some local residents having to pay an annual maintenance charge to a management company or, in some cases, having their streets and public lighting maintained to an unacceptable standard with irregular interventions by the Developer.

He went on to explain the historical issues that had been experienced with developers, resulting in several sites not being offered for adoption.  It was hoped that the guidance document, which explained how commuted maintenance sums and the introduction of a sliding scale of fees in respect of Section 38 fees requested would increase the number of sites being offered for adoption and result in increased fee income for the Authority.  Initial discussions with developers had welcomed the approach being recommended.

RESOLVED that:

1)       The report and guidance document be noted and referred to the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transportation;

2)       The names of the un-adopted sites be publicised in an appropriate forum.

The Chair reported that due to illness Lisa Wells would attend the next meeting scheduled for 16 November 2016 in respect of Swansea Market and the Pedestrianisation of Wind Street.  He also suggested that a site visit to be undertaken to view the layout and benefits of the pedestrianised street in Cardiff.

The Chair presented the Work Plan for 2016-2017.

RESOLVED that the Work Plan be noted.