Cost of hedges may fall (From Gazette Series)

Cost of hedges may fall

THE FEE charged by Stroud District Council for its involvement in high hedge disputes could be reduced.

At the district council's cabinet meeting last Thursday, cabinet member for community cohesion Cllr David Wride proposed that the full complaints fee of £550 was reduced to £300.

Cllr Wride (Con, Vale) said the fee had been calculated to serve as a deterrent to frivolous and vexatious claims, adding that it was also a way of trying to get neighbours to come to an amicable agreement without the council being involved.

Under Section 8 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, which came into force on June 1, local authorities have legislative powers to resolve disputes by controlling the height of problem hedges. District council will receive no funding to meet the costs of implementing the act and are entitled to charge a fee.

Cllr Stephen Glanfield (Con, Amberley and Woodchester) welcomed the reduced fee saying: "I am absolutely delighted that we are proposing to bring down the fee down.

"I do however know that the expectation of the cost is probably likely to be in the region of £550. However £300 seems to be a more reasonable and more appropriate amount.

"The big issue is that we have been given this duty without any funding from central government and consequently we have to find a way in which to deal with it. I am delighted to hear the council has resolved quite a number of issues without ever getting to the stage of charging the fee and I hope this will continue."

He added: "We are trying to live with it at the lowest possible cost we can. If we find £300 is too expensive we will reduce it and if we find it is too little we will be bound to put it up."

Cllr Dorcas Binns (Con, Nailsworth) raised concern that a proposed reduced rate complaints fee of £100 could still be too much for people in receipt of benefits.

But Cllr Wride said: "We have to be aware of people bringing cases that are not necessary or there isn't a case. We want to prevent that happening and it is not unreasonable to put forward £100."

The proposal is due to be ratified by the full council on July 28.