Agenda item

To receive and consider the report of the Operations and Estates Officer.

The Committee received and considered the report of the Operations and Estates Officer.  He added that he has been in contact with a resident who had offered 6 oaks to be planted at King George V Field but he had asked them to bring them on to two years old as the Town Council could not plant them before that point.  A member asked if other trees could be planted and he replied that they could as long as the right trees were planted in the right places.

Members moved onto discussing the proposed pesticide policy and how to move forward with this issue. The Operations and Estates Officer advised that STRI was in the process of writing a report for the sports areas but there may be incidences such as wasps’ nests when some pesticides may need to be used in small quantities.  Generally, members felt that if at all possible, things such as wasps’ nests should be left alone but agreed that occasionally a pesticide may be needed if there was a danger to the public.  However, Officers were asked to look for organic alternatives wherever possible.  A member asked if the Operations and Estates officer could speak to Oxford City Council as it did not use pesticides.  The Operations and Estates Officer replied that he had download its policy and they did use some pesticides.

The Operations and Estates Officer highlighted the fact that the Church was expecting the Town Council to use a chemical to remove the ivy from the wall that needed repairing as it was extremely deep rooted.  If it was done by hand, the wall would have to be taken down and rebuilt and this was not a possibility.

Members voted on a proposal that whilst all possible attempts should be made to use organic methods to control pests/weeds, on some occasions, chemicals may need to be used, but this would be assessed on a case by case basis.  All members voted in favour with the exception of Cllr Bolger who abstained.

The Operations and Estates Officer advised that due to the policy of minimal chemical use, the green at West Witney Bowls Club was suffering from excess moss.  In order to get fresh air moving across the green – which would help to remedy this – some of the adjacent trees needed to be removed.  Members were unsure about this and asked if the Operations and Estates Officer could ask the contractors if they could reduce the canopy enough without removing trees.  A member asked if removing some trees would improve the health of the other and the Operations and Estates Officer confirmed that it would.

RESOLVED:

1.            that the report be noted;

2.            that that whilst all possible attempts should be made to use organic methods to control pests/weeds, on some occasions, chemicals may need to be used, but this would be assessed on a case by case basis;

3.            that the Operations and Estates Officer ask the contractors if reducing the canopy of the trees adjacent to the bowls green at West Witney Sports Ground would be sufficient to improve the condition of the green – if this was the case then this should go ahead;

4.            that if trees needed removing from West Witney, the Operations and Estates Officer should bring it back to the Committee.