Issue - meetings

Land at Gore Court Road

Meeting: 14/12/2016 - Policy and Resources Committee (Item 143)

143 Report of the Director of Finance and Business Improvement - Land at Gore Court Road pdf icon PDF 68 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

1.  That the disposal of an area of open space, with a total of 414 square metres, to the west of Gore Court Road as outlined on red on the plan attached to the report of the Director of Finance and Business Improvement be agreed;

2.  That a covenant be agreed that would ensure that a replacement native hedgerow is provided six months in advance of removal of the existing hedge with details to be submitted to and approved by the local Planning Authority; and

3.  That the Heritage, Culture and Leisure Committee be recommended  to consider the implementation of a semi-natural buffer within the Senacre Recreation Ground bounding the new hedgerow which would increase its value for wildlife and long term protection.

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Finance and Business Improvement relating to land at Gore Court Road.

 

Members were reminded that a referred decision was taken by the Committee at its meeting on 26 October 2016 from Heritage, Culture and Leisure Committee and the land in question was declared surplus to operational requirements.  This would enable access to a development site where planning permission had already been granted.

 

During the ensuing discussion, concern was expressed that the Ecological Survey had been carried out too soon as it did not take into account that the wildlife that inhabit the hedgerow would be hibernating for the winter shortly.  A true perspective should therefore be obtained in the Spring.

 

It was suggested that recommendation 2 be amended to read ‘That a covenant be agreed that will ensure that a replacement native hedgerow is provided six months in advance of removal of the existing hedge with details to be submitted to and approved by the local Planning Authority’.

 

Members were keen to ensure that a covenant should be included as part of the negotiations with the developer to ensure the specification and timing of the planting of the new hedge, the process and timing for removal the old hedge and the establishment of a maintenance regime to ensure the new hedge flourishes are all carried out.

 

It was also suggested that the Heritage, Culture and Leisure Committee be recommended  to consider the implementation of a semi-natural buffer within the Senacre Recreation Ground bounding the new hedgerow which would increase its value for wildlife and long term protection.

RESOLVED:

 

1.  That the disposal of an area of open space, with a total of 414 square metres, to the west of Gore Court Road as outlined on red on the plan attached to the report of the Director of Finance and Business Improvement be agreed;

2.  That a covenant be agreed that would ensure that a replacement native hedgerow is provided six months in advance of removal of the existing hedge with details to be submitted to and approved by the local Planning Authority; and

Voting:  For:  12  Against:  2  Abstentions: 1

3.  That the Heritage, Culture and Leisure Committee be recommended  to consider the implementation of a semi-natural buffer within the Senacre Recreation Ground bounding the new hedgerow which would increase its value for wildlife and long term protection.

Voting:  For:  10  Against:  4  Abstentions: 1