Agenda item

Grounds Maintenance - Trees, Floral Displays and Pesticide Policy

To receive and consider the following reports of the Operations & Estates Officer:

 

a)      Trees

b)     Church Green & Welch Way Commemorative Bed – planting scheme

c)      Pestacide Policy

 

To also consider the Council’s entry in the Thames & Chilterns In Bloom Competition for 2020 – the In Bloom Sub-Committee decided not to enter the competition next year however given the Gold Award for the Leys Recreation Ground, Members are requested to give consideration to entering this category again, or any other areas in the Town Council’s full control.

Minutes:

a) Trees

 

The Committee received and considered the report of the Operations and Estates Officer, in which he reported that the Council’s Tree Surgeon had advised that it was not possible to reduce the canopy of trees to get better air flow to the West Witney Bowls Green.  There followed a discussion on why trees needed to be removed and agreed that whilst three trees would be removed, six trees would be replanted elsewhere.  The other items of work were agreed.

 

b) Church Green and Welch Way Commemorative Bed – Planting Scheme

 

The Committee received and considered the report of the Operations and Estates Officer, concerning a change to the make-up of planting and the condition of the raised bed at Welch Way.

 

c) Pesticide Policy

 

The Committee received and considered the report of the Operations and Estates Officer, with a policy for sports pitches.  The policy for the whole town would be brought to the next meeting.

 

RECOMMENDED:

 

a)            i)  that the report of the Operations and Estates Officer be noted and that an additional sum of £3,995 be added to the arboriculture budget to deal with the major deadwood etc. within the tree belt at West Witney;

 

ii)  that three trees to the southern side of West Witney Bowls Green be removed with 6 trees to be planted elsewhere as a replacement.

 

b)            i) that the report be noted;

 

ii) that a supplementary estimate of £5,210.35 be provided from the general reserve to re-construct the raised bed on Welch Way;

 

iii) that an annual sum of £2,000 for 5 years be set aside for the future reconstruction of this bed in stone, with the Operations and Estates Officer obtaining quotes for this work;

 

iv) that the planting of the beds on Church Green be changed to 50% perennial and 50% shrubs.

 

c)            that the report of the Operations and Estates Officer be noted and that the full pesticides policy for non-sporting areas is brought to the next meeting.

 

Supporting documents: