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 15 June 2016 be approved and signed as a correct record.

Ian Whettleton / Fran Williams

Ian Whettleton, Divisional Officer Waste Management and Fran Williams, Team Leader Enforcement, Fly tipping and Litter updated the Committee in relation to the review of Fly tipping.

The Committee discussed the various courses of formal action that could be undertaken as well as legislation issues and the procedure for dealing with fly-tipping on private land. 

RESOLVED that the following information be provided for the next meeting:

1)       A list of how many cases had been received and how many prosecutions had taken place;

2)       A sample of 5-6 different cases outlining how they had been dealt with.

Martin Bignell

Martin Bignall, Tree Services Unit Manager presented the current Operational Policy of the Management of Trees under the Parks Service.

He explained that at present the Authority did not have a formal Tree Policy; however the current Operational Policy had been drawn up by officers. 

A Tree Preservation Scrutiny Working Group had taken place with 9 recommendations being made.  One of the recommendations was to develop a Tree Policy for the whole Council, which this Committee would now oversee.  The Officer stated that a formal Tree Policy would require agreement from a variety of different departments, such as Planning and Countryside.

He clarified that as tree owners, our main objective was to ensure that our trees were inspected regularly and were as safe as practicable.  He outlined details of the inspection regime and members discussed the criteria for pruning trees.

The Officer stated that the intention would be to move towards a more pro-active service rather than re-active as at present.  A formal tree policy would be of benefit as it would be publically available and outline what the Authority would and wouldn’t do (as outlined in sections 6, 7 and 8 of the current document).

The Chair thanked the officer for his report and explanation of the process.

RESOLVED that the Tree Services Unit Manager provide the following information for the meeting scheduled for 21 September 2016:

1)       A formal introduction to the strategy be drafted;

2)       A list of Trees with Tree Preservation Orders (TPO’s) on Council land be provided;

3)       The methodology for trees having TPO’s made on them be provided and included in the Tree Policy.

RESOLVED that the work plan be noted subject to the following amendments:

1)       Remove Recycling – Pink Bag Trial from the work plan;

2)       Second site visit to Morriston take place sometime between the next 2 meetings scheduled for 17 August 2016 and 21 September 2016