Agenda and draft minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 29 July 2024.

The minutes of the meeting held on 29 July 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 made the following statement.

“In the last council I was the chairman of the cabinet.  On several occasions the cabinet was called upon to make decisions about Dinah’s Hollow.  In particular on 6 April 2021 the cabinet approved capital funding to deliver a scheme to stabilise the banks on both sides of the hollow.  Although the cabinet approved funding for a scheme I was not involved as chairman of the cabinet in approving the detail of the planning application currently before the committee.  I have been advised that my previous involvement as chairman of the cabinet in the last council means that I am lawfully predisposed towards making Dinah’s Hollow safe.  Being predisposed is not the same as being unlawfully predetermined in my view.  Like other councillors I am here today to consider this specific planning application and I will decide the application on its own merits, considering all of the information before the committee and the comments for and against.

A Tree Works Application has been received to remove trees at woodland Tree Preservation Order (TPO) 38/2/05 at Dinah’s Hollow, Melbury Abbas. The works are required in order to implement a Highways scheme.

The Head of Planning presented the tree works application at Dinah’s Hollow, Melbury Abbas.  The application sought to remove a number of trees, undertake some coppice work and general maintenance to the woodland area.  Works proposed to implement a highway scheme at a later date were not for determination, the report related to the Tree Preservation Order (TPO) application only. 

In his Introduction the Head of Planning advised that the area was subject to a TPO and Dorset Council Cabinet had approved funding for the stabilisation works at their meeting of 9 July 2024, this included taking necessary steps for the submission of a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO).  These tree works were necessary to progress the CPO.

A summary of the key elements of the proposal included details of slope stabilisation works and tree works, including the number of trees to be felled (68 reduced from 80 as stated in the report), coppiced (64) and retained (139).  An aerial photograph and site location plan showed the site and context within the landscape.

Additional information relating to the key considerations of Landscape, Ecology, Heritage, Public footpath and Amenity were identified and highlighted.  Surveys had been undertaken which indicated the need to apply for protected species licences from Natural England prior to undertaking the work.

The CPO would take approx. 18 months to 2 years to progress, following which further surveys would need to be undertaken due to possible changes in ecology and habitats.

Conservation officers had been consulted and were satisfied that the tree works would not affect the nearest listed building.

The Senior Tree Officer detailed the more specific details of the proposed tree works.  By use of a visual presentation the members were shown a diagram of the area and a breakdown of the trees that were to be retained, untouched, coppiced and removed.  He suggested that the canopy spread as shown in the diagram was larger than the trees actually were. 

The Senior Tree Officer had looked at the merits of the application and advised that the suggested work should be carried out as part of good management techniques, regardless of any additional engineering work.  The work would result in the re-establishment of the canopy over time.

Details of the coppice work required were explained and the Senior Tree Officer re-iterated that some trees needed to be felled as part of good woodland management whether the highways work took place or not.

Oral representation was received by Jack Wiltshire, Head of Highways, as the applicant in support of the application.

In response to member questions the committee was advised that the undertaking of the work would preserve the Hollow for a longer time.  Officers were unable to confirm the timescales of the work or whether it would be phased.  The permission would be for a 5-year period and it would be up to the Authority and Contractor to determine the timings of the work. 

The tree work would most likely be done by using a cherry  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

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 urgent business.