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Tyler Linton said that overhanging vegetation
was also dealt with by the 1980 Highways Act.  Every street was categorised which meant they were
inspected either monthly or quarterly.  From April 1 2019 to 10 March 2020, 193
hedge notices were issued.  This meant
that the owners had 14 days to cut the vegetation back.  If the owners did not comply, they would receive a
further letter giving them a further 14 days.  If the owners still did not comply, the Council
would cut back the vegetation and recharge the owner.  The Council had cut 16 hedges back in this
time period.
 
Councillor Stops said that he endlessly
complained about hedges and his experience did not match the
assertion that the streets were inspected regularly.  He felt the service deserved a 5 out of 10
marking and the Council needed to be more industrious in tackling
this.  He asked if Enforcement could
issue FPNs.  Gerry McCarthy said that
Street Scene were leading on this and it was not possible to issue
FPNs on the spot.  Enforcement had
a procedure to follow which involved warning letters before an FPN
could be issued.  Tyler Linton
said that if Street Scene received a complaint then the vegetation
would be inspected to see if it met the threshold so if there was
under 2 metres of footway, a 14 day Notice would be issued to cut
the vegetation back.
 
Councillor Potter asked if the streets on the
limits of the borough were inspected for example Blackstock Road.  Tyler
Linton confirmed they were and Gerry McCarthy said that and
Enforcement Officer attended Blackstock
Road weekly as there were other issues to attend to here.
 
Councillor Stops asked if he could attend the
inspections with officers.
 
The Chair asked if the Council encouraged
other Council staff such as waste operatives who were out and about
in the borough daily to report any overhanging
vegetation.  Tyler Linton said
this was something that could be looked into.