Agenda item

ENFORCEMENT ACTION AUTHORISED

Report HPR2021/038

Authorisation was sought for the Council to take direct action to achieve compliance with a Tree Replacement Notice (TRN).

The costs for such works were quoted between £7,116 and £14,520. In this regard, Members were also requested to authorise sufficient budget allocation to address the breach of the TRN. A land charge may be placed on the land to ensure the costs were recovered upon a future sale.

Oral representations in support of enforcement action being taken were received at the meeting.

The Principal Tree Officer reported that the Council would seek to engage a contractor and supervise them to replace all the trees that were removed and ensure that they establish and have an aftercare package for 2-3 years following planting. Since the caution on site was given, the owners of the land had not engaged with officers at any point. The costs of the aftercare package would be recovered through the land change on the property. The TPO had a woodland designation so any tree that grew or was planted in the area would automatically be protected.

The Legal Representative confirmed that costs in relation to the tree replanting order would be recovered through the charge on the property.

Members having considered the report and representations, RESOLVED that Enforcement Action be pursued for:-

1)  the Council to engage with private contractors to enter the land and plant the trees described in paragraph 3.4 of the report within the area denoted in the TRN; and

2)  recovery of the costs of the action to be sought from the land owner.