Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 2 September 2024.

Officer Note.

Due to an administrative error, interested parties were not notified in advance of the 2^nd September 2024 committee meeting, and the application is therefore being reported back to the Strategic and Technical Planning Committee on 30 September 2024.

The minutes of the meeting held on 2 September 2024 were confirmed and signed.

To disclose any pecuniary, other registrable or non-registrable interests as set out in the adopted Code of Conduct. In making their disclosure councillors are asked to state the agenda item, the nature of the interest and any action they propose to take as part of their declaration.

If required, further advice should be sought from the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

Cllr Flower reminded the committee that he had made a declaration at the previous meeting and that was still applicable to the application.

Tree Works Application to remove trees at woodland, Tree Preservation Order (TPO) 38/2/05 at Dinah’s Hollow, Melbury Abbas.

The Head of Planning explained that due to an administrative error, interested parties had not been notified in advance of the committee meeting held on 2 September 2024. The application was therefore being reported back to the Strategic and Technical Planning Committee on 30 September 2024.  No formal decision had been issued from the previous decision made on 2 September 2024.

An update had been received from the applicant which is attached as an appendix to these minutes.

The Head of Planning detailed the background of the application for tree works only at Dinah’s Hollow, which was subject to a Tree Preservation Order (TPO)  The applicant was Dorset Council in it’s capacity as Highways Authority.  Cabinet had approved funding for the stabilisation works at it’s meeting of 9 July 2024, this included taking the necessary steps for submission of a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) to the Secretary of State.

The key elements of the proposal were summarised, a correction to the number of trees was highlighted and confirmed that 80 trees were to be felled, 38 coppiced and 100 retained without coppicing.

By way of a visual presentation the site location was highlighted showing it’s proximity to Shaftesbury and Blandford.  The Head of Planning advised that a further representation had been received from Melbury Abbas & Cann Parish Council. 

A summary of the key considerations identified, and details of the landscape were presented.  An additional consideration of the application was ecology and a separate licencing process would have to be agreed with Natural England. The approval of tree works was sought in order to proceed with the CPO which could take 18 months to 2 years, during which time there could be changes to the ecology and protected species, it was therefore proposed to add a condition requiring all licences be in place prior to commencement of work.

Other considerations taken into account were heritage, it was considered that the tree works would have no adverse effect on the listed building “Spring House”, amenity and consideration of alternative options.

The Senior Tree Officer explained the details of the proposal and the reasons behind the reduction in the number of trees being removed from the original application.  A visual presentation indicated the trees to be removed and coppiced, the majority were juvenile trees, midway and lower down the bank.  Their removal would allow the stabilisation of the hollow and coppice regeneration.  If left the trees would become leggy and have an overbearing effect on the Hollow.  A concrete barrier had already been put in place to prevent further slippage onto the road.

Disregarding the highway scheme a number of trees needed to be coppiced to prevent them collapsing.  Coppicing allowed for future re-generation and was an ancient form of woodland management.  A number of larger trees to be felled were also pointed out to the members, these needed to be addressed in terms of good woodland management and highways safety.

The Head of Planning concluded the presentation and the recommendation to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

To consider any items of business which the Chairman has had prior notification and considers to be urgent pursuant to section 100B (4) b) of the Local Government Act 1972. The reason for the urgency shall be recorded in the minutes.

There were no urgent items.

To move the exclusion of the press and the public for the following item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 3 of schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended). The public and the press will be asked to leave the meeting whilst the item of business is considered.  

There are no exempt items scheduled for this meeting.  

There was no exempt business.