A MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL CHAIRMAN’S COMMITTEE was held

on Tuesday 23rd June 2009, Ilex Lane Cemetery at 2.00 pm.

 

Present:                                   Mrs. A Brading, Mr. S Bridges, Mr. A Forbes (chairman), Mr. G Lloyd,

Ms D Powell (vice-chairman), Mr. C Sampson (vice-chairman), Mr. M Williamson

 

Clerk:                                       Mrs. L Rampton.           

Members of the public:            None

 

Apologies for absence:            None

 

 

1.    DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST - none declared

2.    MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES – no matters arising

3.    PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - none

 

4.    TO CONSIDER A REQUEST FROM WESTERN POWER DISTRIBUTION TO REMOVE ALL TREES WITHIN FALL DISTANCE OF THE MAJOR POWER LINE RUNNING ACROSS THE CEMETERY.

Contact has been received from Hi-Line Contractors SW on behalf of Western Power Distribution to carry out biennial tree maintenance works on trees close to the power line at the cemetery. In a meeting between the Cemetery & Allotment Committee Chairman, the Clerk & a WPD Contractor on 18th June, it was advised that these works have been requested by Western Power Distribution to comply with new regulations (chapter 29, schedule 4 of the Electricity Act of 1989 with the proposed works to achieve standards compliant with the 2006 amendment to the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations) to improve the resilience and reliability of overhead electricity distribution networks through better management of vegetation in close proximity to overhead power lines. Following the UK storms of 2002 which resulted in circa 2 million domestic consumers losing electricity supplies for up to 10 days the then Energy Minister commissioned an investigation into electricity company performance at effectively mitigating the risk of faults on power lines caused by trees resulting in the new regulation coming into force on 31st January 2009.

 

All trees demarking the existing and new cemetery extension area, running in close proximity to the power line were inspected by the committee. With the exception of two oak trees, it was considered that the height of the smaller trees could be managed through crown reductions rather than removal of these.

 

Permission should be granted to Western Power Distribution through their contractor Hi-Line to remove one oak tree in the Ilex Lane Hedge and one oak tree adjacent to the allotment picket fence due to the close proximity of these trees to the major overhead electricity cable passing across the cemetery & allotment area. The stump to both these trees should be ground out at the expense of WPD so as not to cause a trip hazard in this public area. Permission should also be given to carry out crown reductions of up to 30% on all other trees in the same line so that these trees remain below the height of the overhead electricity supply.

Proposed: Mr. M Williamson                     Seconded: Mr. A Forbes                      All in favour

 

Quotations should be obtained for the removal of a sycamore tree in the current cremation area that will be considered by the cemetery & allotment committee at their next meeting.

 

             

5.         ANY OTHER BUSINESS- none

 

 

 

The meeting concluded at 2.10pm

 

 

 

 

Signed...................................................................(Chairman)                         

 

Date...........................