Environmental, Tree and Wildlife Policy
Adopted May 2021/22/23
Heckington Parish Council (HPC) recognises its operations and activities on its premises may have an impact on the environment. It accepts the responsibility to care for the environment through its own practices and by encouraging others. HPC will be as conscientious as possible about efficiency, biodiversity, conservation and the use of resources and recycling.
1. AIMS
In all of its activities HPC will aim to make a positive contribution to protecting and enhancing the local and global environment and will strive to make biodiversity a natural and integral part of policy and decision making.
2. ACTIONS
To achieve its aims, HPC will endeavour to –
• Meet all relevant environmental legislation and regulations.
• Regularly update and improve policies in light of increased understanding and knowledge.
• Prepare, implement and monitor environmental action plans for HPC owned assets.
• Minimise the consumption of all resources used in its operations and consider the lifecycle impact of purchases. In particular reduce the use of single use plastic where possible.
• Minimise waste in HPC activities. Recycle and reuse waste material where possible. Dispose of all necessary waste through safe and responsible methods.
• Minimise energy use and emissions to air. Use renewable energy sources as far as possible. Regularly review energy conservation technology (eg low energy light bulbs etc).
• Work with and support other parishes and local authorities to implement wider scale initiatives.
• Encourage and support community-led initiatives where appropriate
• Support initiatives that encourage sustainable transport where possible.
• Respect and protect natural resources through conservation and good management (eg cleaning fluids, glues etc to be as environmentally least damaging as possible).
• Where possible, use contractors and suppliers who
a. Have an environmental policy which meets best practice and is updated regularly, and
b. are local, thus minimising transportation and supporting the local economy.
3. TREES MANAGEMENT (see also Tree Policy)
The Parish Council manages numerous individual trees on HPC registered open spaces. The trees in the Parish make a major contribution to its amenity and have significant environmental value. They provide a habitat for wildlife and help to give cleaner, filtered air, shade in the summer and warmth in the winter.
Our aim is to manage this resource in a safe and sustainable manner for both the enjoyment and the safety of the public. This is achieved by regular surveying and monitoring from which pruning, felling and replacement planting will be scheduled.
3.1 Inspections and re-planting
i. A nominated person on behalf of Heckington Parish Council, will complete a walking, ground-level visual check of all HPC owned trees on an annual basis. Findings will be recorded on relevant documentation and will be reported to the next available Full Council meeting.
ii. Ad hoc visual inspections will take place as a result of public reports.
iii. Where an inspection reveals evidence of risk or concern, the Parish Council will seek advice from a professionally qualified arborist. Depending on the level of risk identified and the action recommended (and in line with the constraints of the HPC Financial Regulations) the work may be instructed without prior approval of a Full Council meeting. All findings and actions must be reported however at the next available Full Council meeting.
iv. Where a tree has been felled, the Parish Council will replant one or more trees on its land, as close to the original as practicable.
3.2 Council trees and its responsibilities
The Council favours the retention of trees where possible. The purpose of this information is to provide residents with clear and concise information with regard to what they can reasonable expect from the Council in terms of:
• Council trees overhanging residential property
• Council trees restricting light or view
• Council trees which are dead, dying, dangerous, or contain any significant dead or broken limbs
3.3 Work the council WILL do
The Council will maintain their trees in a safe condition and will
• Remove dead, dying, or dangerous trees
• Remove major dead wood
• Remove dangerous or damaged limbs
• Prune branches where an actionable legal nuisance is being caused e.g.: damage to structures, phone lines etc.
3.4 Work the Council WILL NOT do
The Council has NO obligation to:
• Prune back or remove overhanging branches other than to abate an actionable legal nuisance
• Prune or fell trees to improve light to a property
• Prune or fell trees to improve the view to a property
• Systematically crown reduce or 'top' trees
3.5 General Information
In common law, a property owner can cut back overhanging branches to the boundary of their property. The Council will normally have no objection to property owners carrying out tree work or engaging a contractor at their own expense, providing that:
• Access is not gained onto the neighbouring land and/or into a tree within that land. If access to council land or into a tree on that land is required, council permission must be sought
• The tree is not situated in a Conservation Area or protected by a Tree Preservation Order for which separate consent is required from North Kesteven District Council.
• Any work that is done to a tree is not detrimental to its health or stability
• Any tree work undertaken is carried out in accordance with current best practice
• We are notified of the proposed work and commencement date
Summary – Heckington Parish Council will give consideration to any complaints or requests regarding trees under HPC management, taking into account it’s Trees Policy and/or advice from a qualified arboricultural expert.
4. BIRD BOXES AND DUCK HOUSES
There are currently no bird boxes or duck houses under HPC responsibility.
5. BATS
All bats are European Protected Species, which means it is an offence to harm or disturb bats or their roosts whether this is deliberate or unintentional. Roosts are protected whether bats are present or not. Full details of legislation relating to bats can be found at: www.naturalengland.org.uk
6. SPECIALLY PROTECTED WILD ANIMALS
As detailed in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, there are many species of bird, mammal and other wildlife that are protected. Full details can be found within Schedule 5 of the Act.
6.1 Foxes and Badgers
In common with many other authorities, Heckington Parish Council does not support or practice lethal control of foxes or badgers (which are ‘specially protected’). It supports coexistence and humane deterrence. Foxes and badgers are not vermin; they are part of our rural wildlife. There is no legislation to compel local councils to undertake control of foxes or badgers. Residents will be given advice and encouraged to adopt humane solutions to their perceived fox problems. The Council does not support or permit fox or badger hunting or culling on its land.
6.2 Rats, Moles and Rabbits
Rats and moles are classed as vermin and rabbits are classed as pests and both classifications have limited protection under the Wild Mammals Cruelty Protection Act 1996, and when trapped or caught, the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Due to the damage they can cause, it is allowed in law to control their numbers using a legally approved poison and carried out by a trained and licenced operator.
Heckington Parish Council has a legal and moral duty to ensure that damage to specific areas of responsibility is kept to a minimum – these areas being the Boston Road Cemetery, the allotment site and the Playing Field (specifically the pitches). Therefore in accordance with the legal guidelines, an external, professionally qualified contractor will be used on all occasions that control of such pests and vermin is required.
7. DOMESTIC PET FOULING
Heckington Parish Council will not tolerate any instances of pet fouling on Parish Land. HPC provides and maintains nearly 50 bins for residents to bag and dispose of dog faeces and will consider any requests for additional bins at new sites. The Council will promote where possible, the responsible disposal of pet faeces using the bins provided.
8. COLLABORATION WITH KNOWLEDGEABLE TRUSTS
Heckington Parish Council will, where necessary, collaborate with registered, non-political knowledgeable trusts such as the Bat Conservation Trust, the Badger Trust etc. and endeavour to take and act on advice given whenever possible.