Issue - items at meetings - Public Questions

(The closing date for receipt of public questions is 12 noon on 10 December 2009)

(copy attached).

69.1         The Cabinet Member reported that two public questions had been received.

69.2         Ms Paynter asked the following question:

"A dense line of mature trees and plantings, which mitigate in an acknowledged area of air quality concern, borders the 40 year old Clarendon & Ellen Estate along the entire length of Clarendon Road.

An FOI request for the age, expected lifespan and variety of the trees therein resulted in details of a number of saplings planted in surrounding areas from 2004 on.  I was told this 'represents the only records the Arboricultural Team hold for this area.

Why are no records held by Arboriculture for the mature plantings?"

69.3         The Cabinet Member gave the following response:

“The council’s Arboriculture team operate a tree management system which is designed to log information about trees on council streets. This includes their location, condition and history.  This system is also used to record information on trees in the city’s parks and, in part, on council housing land.

There are limited resources available to carry this work out so, in the case of trees on housing land, trees are added to the database when arboricultural work is ordered.  In effect, this means that the trees on housing land that are logged, are those that are the ones that have been identified as needing attention, e.g. cutting back, treatments, etc.

Rob Greenland, Arboriculture Manager, has advised that his team will record the details of the trees surrounding the Clarendon and Ellen estate in Spring 2010.  In addition, training will also be provided in 2010 for Community Wardens on how to carry out basic visual inspections of trees, and how information from their inspections can feed into the tree management system.”

69.4         Ms Paynter asked the following supplementary question:

“I only resorted to FOI when, after some four months and 25 emails, provision was still avoided by everyone from Parks & Gardens to Arboriculture to Housing.  I was asking in my capacity as Chair of a Residents Association representing the 357 addresses paying this council to look after those plantings.

FOI sent the question to Parks & Gardens who sent the question to Arboriculture.  Nobody wants responsibility for these plantings or is even willing to admit this entire street length of trees exists.  Parks & Gardens had and used an on-site gardener’s lockup area and dedicated lavatory for very many years. 

Every tree planted in this city has a number! Will the Cabinet Member undertake to find and provide me with the formal records of the numerous very mature trees along the length of Clarendon Road in Hove, from the corner of Sackville Road all the way down its whole length, some of which are now dead or dying?”

69.5         The Cabinet Member gave the following response:

“I am not able to produce records that do not exist. There are limited resources available to do this work, but the recording system will be improved for the future.”

69.6         Ms Baumgardt asked the following question:

“I'm sure I share the view of many other residents in Brighton and Hove who were horrified to hear of the Council's recent gassing of wild rabbits on Waterhall golf course. Could the Cabinet Member for Environment confirm whether Council officers looked at other alternatives including the advice of Humane Wildlife Deterrent experts, as recommended on the Health & Safety Executive website, before going ahead with this slaughter of wild rabbits, which could also have harmed other wildlife including badgers, foxes, weasels and stoats - which may have been a criminal offence in the case of badgers - and that, furthermore, chemicals used could have harmed the local ecosystem?”

69.7         The Cabinet Member gave the following response:

“Over the years officers had expected a natural reduction in the rabbit population (through myxomatosis or cold winters) but this has not happened and officers have been left with a huge problem which they have had to tackle. They have considered the pros and cons of various methods of reducing the rabbit population and consulted with our own pest control experts.

I can say that the method being used should not affect other animals as it is targeted at rabbit burrows.”

69.8         Ms Baumgardt asked the following supplementary question:

“Could the Cabinet Member confirm that he will request Council officers to develop a Humane Wildlife Deterrent strategy, in consultation with experts, which should be the first priority consideration when dealing with problems of this kind on Council land in the future?”

69.9         The Cabinet Member gave the following response:

69.10    “I found out about the measures taken after the event, however, I have been advised that this was the best method and that the action was necessary. Officers are always willing to hear from experts and do take expert advice on board.”