Agenda item

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

To consider the above petition, bearing 15 signatures which has been submitted by Councillor T Sawdon, a Wainbody Ward Councillor who has been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item along with the petition organiser

The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) concerning a petition, bearing 15 signatures, which had been submitted by Councillor Sawdon, a Wainbody Ward Councillor, who attended the meeting along with the petition organiser Mrs Stanley and they spoke on behalf of the petitioners. The petitioners were requesting that the Council cleared up the land in their ownership to the rear of the properties in Alfriston Road, Finham.

The report indicated that the area of land the subject of the petition was defined as Stonebridge Highway Spinney within the Council’s Greenspace Strategy and included a range of mature trees including ash, pine, lime and poplar.

The Cabinet Member was informed that the Council owned and maintained 40 woodland areas and spinneys covering an area of approximately 296 hectares. This made up 22% of all park and open space managed by the Council’s Park Service. Characteristically these woodland and spinney areas supported an understory of vegetation including a range of plant species classified as semi-rural and were typical for sites like Stonebridge Highway Spinney. The understory was a food source for bees and wild animals.

The woodland and spinney areas were extremely popular and well visited by the City residents providing a range of recreational opportunities such as walking, dog walking and jogging as well as bringing people into contact with nature. A network of informal pathways was maintained through these areas allowing and encouraging access.

The report referred to the 2015 25% reduction to the Council’s Greenspace and Streetpride Service budget. This reduction restricted the Services’ ability to be able to undertake any additional low priority operations which were outside essential routine and scheduled maintenance works. Works to clear and dispose of the spinney understory were estimated at £6,000 and would need to be undertaken annually and would take both financial and staff resource away from more essential operations such as grass cutting and street cleansing.

The Cabinet Member was informed that previous requests to clear vegetation from other woodland and spinney sites had been rejected.

Mrs Stanley drew attention to the problems caused by nettles and brambles encroaching onto the paths, the issue of fly tipping and to the state of some of the trees which had been neglected. Councillor Sawdon informed that the petitioners wanted the paths to be cleared and were concerned about tree branches growing over resident’s fences.

Councillor Innes requested that residents report issues of fly tipping to the Council so that the rubbish could be removed in line with the normal procedures.

RESOLVED that:

(1) The large number and area of similar woodlands and spinneys owned by the Council be noted.

(2) The resource implications of clearing the spinney at the rear of Alfriston Road be noted.

(3) The valuable wildlife habitat and resource provided by the spinneys and their undergrowth be noted.

(4) Officers be requested to investigate the state of the footpaths in the spinney and to undertake any necessary works to allow local residents to be able to use these footpaths.