Bath landlord fined £1,000 for failing to licence a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO)

A Bath landlord has been ordered to pay a total of £2,600 for illegally operating a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) following a successful prosecution by Bath & North East Somerset Council.

The landlord pleaded guilty to failing to licence a licensable HMO under the Council’s Additional Licensing scheme, which is enforced by the Housing Act 2004, and was ordered to pay a £1,000 fine, £1,500 costs and a £100 victim surcharge by Bath Magistrates Court on Monday, April 26.

The Council brought forward the prosecution after inspectors discovered that the HMO property was operating without a licence and had fire safety issues, including a defective fire alarm system and a dangerous layout with key locks on bedroom doors which could prevent a quick escape during a fire. The property is now licenced and remedial works have been carried out to bring the property up to current safety standards.

The Additional Licensing Scheme was brought in to improve the condition and management of HMOs and protect tenants by making homes safe and healthy places to live and we will not take any non-compliance lightly. The Council will always try to work in partnership with landlords and agents to improve housing standards and in the majority of cases landlords work hard to comply, but where there are clear breaches of legislation the Council will take strong enforcement action in order to safeguard tenants. We want to ensure that those living in HMOs, as well as those living in the local neighbourhood, can enjoy a good quality of life.”

Since the Council introduced the Additional Licensing scheme in Bath and North East Somerset in January 2014, 15 cautions have also been issued to landlords for failing to licence properties, including five since January 2016. 

The Council’s Additional Licensing Scheme under the Housing Act 2004 specifies that landlords within the designated HMO area must apply for a licence if they want to operate an HMO, which helps to ensure that occupants are living in safe and well managed properties. The designated area covers the Council’s electoral Wards of Oldfield and Westmoreland, a large part of Widcombe and small sections of the adjoining Wards of Bathwick, Lyncombe, Southdown and Twerton. 

A review is to be undertaken this year by the Council to look at the standard and condition of HMOs in the area and how the Council can better manage the growth of HMOs. As part of the review, the Council will be encouraging people to have their say and come forward with their views. Further details of how you can get involved will be announced in due course.

For more information on HMOs in the area, visit: www.bathnes.gov.uk/hmos.

Placemaking plan and metro Mayor

Bath & North East Somerset Council has submitted its placemaking plan for examination by a government inspector.

The placemaking plan is the addition to the councils core strategy and when adopted finalises it into a full local plan that gives clear guidance to developers and housing numbers that the council agrees are needed for the next 15 years.

The link to the plan can be found here http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/placemakingplan

The plan should be robust and be of comfort to many local residents, however the council has a duty to co-operate  with other local councils and this means the development of a spacial strategy with the other four former councils that used to be Avon means additional housing may be needed to meet Bristol's failure to deliver.

The above is another reason that we do not need a Metro Mayor imposed on our area that could dictate where housing that this area does not need would be built just to meet Bristol'sneeds.

The creation of dormitory towns is not an acceptable solution to meet Bristol's failures. Four years of an elected Mayor in Bristol have seen woeful delivery of affordable housing in that area, whereas Bath & North East Somerset under the Liberal Democrats until 2015 saw 4 years of record breaking delivery.

Police Commisioner elections

Information has been released today to help voters to choose a Police and Crime Commissioner for the Avon and Somerset Police Area.

On Thursday 5 May 2016, voters across the Avon and Somerset Police area will go to the polls to elect a Police and Crime Commissioner.

Details about the following candidates have been published today athttps://www.choosemypcc.org.uk/area/avon-somerset:

Kerry Barker, Labour Party

Chris Briton, Green Party

Paul Crossley, Liberal Democrats

Aaron Warren Foot, UK Independence Party (UKIP)

Sue Mountstevens, Independent

Kevin Stewart Phillips, Independent

Mark Weston, The Conservative Party Candidate

More information on the election is available on the Avon and Somerset PCC Election 2016 website www.avonpccelection2016.org.uk.

You can vote at the election if you are registered to vote, are 18 or over on 5 May 2016 and are a British citizen, a European Union citizen or a qualifying Commonwealth citizen.

Poll cards with details of the PCC election and the location of polling stations will be posted to all registered electors during April.

If you are not yet registered at your current address, you can do it online atwww.avonpccelection2016.org.uk/register-to-vote. Those who would prefer to register using a paper form, can request one by calling the Electoral Services Helpline on 01225 477333.

The deadline to register to vote in time for the PCC election is midnight on Monday 18 April 2016.

If you can’t go to the polling station on Thursday 5 May, then if you have registered by 18 April you can apply to vote by post or you can appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf. The deadline for postal vote applications is on 5pm on Tuesday 19 April 2016, while the deadline for proxy vote applications is 5pm on Tuesday 26 April 2016.

Dr Jo Farrar, the Avon and Somerset Police Area Returning Officer, said: “Time is running out to make sure you can take part in these elections, so I’d encourage everyone across the Avon and Somerset Police Area to register now if you have not done so already. Our message is simple: you can’t vote, if you are not registered by the 18^th April deadline.  It’s easy and only takes a few minutes online – just head towww.avonpccelection2016.org.uk/register-to-vote.”

Registering now for the elections in May will also mean voters are registered in good time before the referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union on Thursday 23 June 2016.

Metro Mayor for Bathnes and former Avon area

Only weeks after residents have rejected a Mayor for Bath & North East Somerset Council we find that the Conservative leader of Bath and North East Somerset council has signed a draft agreement with the other 3 leaders of the Former Avon area for a Metro Mayor.

In an agreement with the Conservative government it seems that the creation of Avon but this time with only one person in charge is being set up with little input from local councils that can be overullued.

Residents will be horrified to find the vast powers that are Being handed to a Metro Mayor that undermine the fabric of local decision making particularly in the areas of planning transport and economic growth.

This so called devolution will have serious implications on house building and where houses can be built in our area, we could find ourselves on the wrong end of having to be a dormitory area for Bristol and having many thousands of houses having to be built in vulnerable areas just to meet Bristols needs on top of our own.

The document is below if like me you have concerns then write to you local Councillor and MP letting them know what you think. A link to councillors contact details is also below.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/508112/160315_West_of_England_Devolution_Agreement_Draft_-_FINAL.pdf

https://democracy.bathnes.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?bcr=1

http://www.jacobreesmogg.com/

http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/ben-howlett/4445

Get ready for the PCC election – make sure you’re registered to vote

Today (Wednesday 30 March) Dr Jo Farrar, the Avon and Somerset Police Area Returning Officer, has published the Notice of Election to inform residents that on Thursday 5 May 2016, voters across the Avon and Somerset Police area will go to the polls to elect a Police and Crime Commissioner.

You can vote at the election if you are registered to vote, are 18 or over on 5 May 2016 and are a British citizen, a European Union citizen or a qualifying Commonwealth citizen.

Poll cards with details of the PCC election and the location of polling stations will be posted to all registered electors during April.

If you are not yet registered at your current address, you can do it online atwww.avonpccelection2016.org.uk/register-to-vote. Those who would prefer to register using a paper form, can download a registration form from the online registration site or alternatively can request one by calling the Electoral Services Helpline on 01225 477333. 

The deadline to register to vote in time for the PCC election is midnight on Monday 18 April 2016.

If you can’t go to the polling station on Thursday 5 May, then if you have registered by 18 April you can apply to vote by post or you can appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf. The deadline for postal vote applications is on 5pm on Tuesday 19 April 2016, while the deadline for proxy vote applications is 5pm on Tuesday 26 April 2016.

Dr Jo Farrar, Electoral Registration Officer for Bath & North East Somerset Council, said: “Time is running out to make sure you can take part in these elections, so I’d encourage everyone in Bath and North East Somerset to register now if you have not done so already. Our message is simple: you can’t vote, if you are not registered by the 18^th April deadline.  It’s easy and only takes a few minutes online – just head towww.avonpccelection2016.org.uk/register-to-vote.”

Registering now for the elections in May will also mean voters are registered in good time before the referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union on Thursday 23 June2016.

Could you be a Police and Crime Commissioner?

Are you interested in standing as a PCC candidate? Information and advice, including the forms you need to complete and a timetable of events, can be found on the PCC 2016 election website www.avonpccelection2016.org.uk/standing-as-a-candidate. 

Nomination papers must be delivered to the office of the Police Area Returning Officer at the Guildhall, High Street, Bath, BA1 5AW, between 10am and 4pm on any working day from Thursday 31 March and no later than 4pm on Thursday 7 April 2016.

Bath museums to host science and Easter events

A variety of family fun activities are taking place at the Roman Baths, Fashion Museum and Victoria Art Gallery in Bath this month and during Easter.

The attractions are hosting Easter themed activities in the first week of April, and the Roman Baths is also celebrating British Science Week with special events in March.

All activities are included in the admission price, which is free for residents in Bath and North East Somerset with a Discovery Card.

Children must be accompanied by an adult for all events.

British Science Week events at the Roman Baths:

Science Busking at the Roman Baths

Find out more about the science behind the Roman Baths, including how the water is heated, aqueducts, hypocaust heating systems, bones, coins and ancient perceptions of the benefits of water.

Saturday 12 March 2016

2pm - 5pm

Hands on Science

There will be handling tables by the Roman Baths with a different topic each day:

Monday, 14 March – human bones found

Tuesday, 15 March – coins found

Wednesday, 16 March – aqueducts

Thursday, 17 March – hypocaust heating systems

Friday, 18 March – glass

10am - 1pm & 2pm - 4pm each day

Easter events:

Romans – Healthy and Happy?

Find out what the Romans did to keep well.

Roman Baths
Monday, 4 April

10am-1pm and 2pm-4pm

Fruity Fun

Invent an enlarged fruit design, for example for a hat, dress, jacket or shirt.

Fashion Museum
Tuesday, 5 April

10.30am – 12.30pm & 1.30pm - 3.30pm

Spring Sunshine

Create some spring flowers and make a spring flower collage. Suitable for 3 - 6 year olds.

Victoria Art Gallery
Wednesday, 6 April

10am - 11am & 11.30am - 12.30pm

Poster Points

Create artistic posters using images and words. Suitable for 5 - 11 year olds.

Victoria Art Gallery
Friday, 8 April 10am - 11am & 11.30am - 12.30pm

For more information visit the attractions’ websites:

www.romanbaths.co.uk

www.fashionmuseum.co.uk

www.victoriagal.org.uk

It's nearly time to say NO to a MAYOR for BANES

It is nearly decision time about how we want BathNES Council to be run. The Mayoral Referendum will be held on the 10^th March. If you are a postal voter you will have already received your ballot papers.

Lib Dems, Labour, Tories and Greens have all campaigned against having an elected Mayor. First and foremost we think it concentrates too much power in the hands of one person. Elected ward councillors will have very little say, pet projects of the mayor will get priority, vulnerable groups will be neglected and important local issues might be ignored. It also costs a lot more money.

However the outcome of the referendum is not a foregone conclusion. So please make sure you use your vote in the referendum on 10^th March to throw out this pointless and costly proposal to change our current system.

Pre inspection consultation on Royal United Hospital

The Care Quality commision have an open invitation to meet their CQC inspectors and share your experience of the services and care provided by the Royal United Hospital Trust in the last 12 months:

These are at

11am – 1pm, Tuesday 1 March 2016 at Trowbridge Library

11am – 1pm, Wednesday 2nd March 2016 at Bath Central Library and

11am -1pm, Waitrose, near the café area, 19 The Podium, Bath

I am sure that they would look forward to seeing many local residents with good or bad experiences at one of these events. 

The Care Quality Commision are soon to carry out an inspection of the RUH and the information that you give would be useful in their assessment of how the trust is performing.

Bath Magistrates Court to be retained as a result of Public Response

It is good news that Bath Magistrates court is to remain open and that the government has agreed that the public are right n the massive response that they gave to the public consultation.

The Lord Chancellor has agreed to retain the Courts after weighing up evidence received during a public consultation.

Evidence was submitted to the Ministry of Justice by Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Community Transport and Environmental Panel, following a Scrutiny Inquiry last September. 

The Inquiry heard evidence from members of the community and many professionals on the key issues and concerns raised by the proposal 

to close Bath Magistrates, County Court and Family Court or North Avon (Yate) Magistrates Court, with the transfer of the workload to Bristol Magistrates Court.  Both the positive and negative impacts were then reported back to the Lord Chancellor’s Office.

Having reviewed all the responses received during the consultation process,

the Lord Chancellor has recently agreed to close 10 courts and tribunals in the South West region, with Bath being the only site to be retained.

Though there was an acceptance that alternative provision might be possible, the responses confirmed the facilities currently available in Bath are of an excellent standard and could in fact be used to better effect by taking work from other courts that may close following this consultation.

Budget vote will mean residents pay more and get less

B&NES Councillors met this evening to discuss the Council budget for the 2016-17 financial year. The budget includes £12M of spending reductions as well as a 3.25% hike in the level of Council Tax residents will be expected to pay. This comes on top of already announced hikes in the precepts charged by the Fire Service, the Police and Crime Commissioner and Parish Councils.

Finance spokesperson for the Lib Dems, Councillor Andy Furse (Kingsmead) commented:

“We are unable to support this budget, which asks residents to pay more and get less. After a five year freeze, residents are being asked to pay 3.25% more Council Tax as well as increases to other precepts. In return, they can expect to see services cut in many departments, with more and more cuts to come.”

“The Conservatives have said they will deliver a balanced budget, but they cannot yet tell us exactly how this will be accomplished. Very little detail has been provided about some of the biggest savings the Conservatives are hoping to achieve. A large proportion of these rely on departmental reviews, which have not yet taken place, and business plans to boost income, which have not yet been developed. Others rely on accounting manipulations.”

“Without these details, Councillors have little chance to assess whether the targets are realistic or whether they will result in further, unacceptable cuts to public services. Some cuts which have already been announced do give cause for concern.” 

“Large sums are being taken out of health budgets for example. These seem to be mainly in preventative services, such as helping smokers quit, and programmes such as support for sexual health and substance misusers. Sirona and Curo are expected to deliver yet more savings.”

“In 2015, the Lib Dems allocated an extra £2.2M for highways maintenance, over and above the government grant, to help address the backlog in repairs. The Conservatives have reduced this pothole fund by £1.7M and have not revealed how the £500,000 which remains will be allocated. Inevitably, fewer potholes will be filled, fewer footpaths resurfaced and fewer roads rebuilt.”

“This is also a disappointing budget for the arts and heritage, with cuts lined up for Arts Development and Events grants, the music service, and destination management. These will come on top of planned, significant increases to entry fees for Council-run museums such as the Roman Baths, leading to the inevitable question – are we at risk of over exploitation of the visitor economy?”

Join the drive and register to vote today

Bath & North East Somerset Council wants to encourage anyone not yet registered to vote, to take advantage of National Voter Registration Drive next week (1 to 7 February 2016) and go online now to register. The good news is that it only takes a few minutes to register online atwww.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

On Thursday 10 March 2016 voters in Bath and North East Somerset will go to the polls to vote on a referendum to decide whether Bath & North East Somerset Council should have a directly elected Mayor and Cabinet or whether it should keep the current system of Leader and Cabinet.

Later in the year, on Thursday 5 May 2016, voters will go to the polls to elect a Police and Crime Commissioner for the Avon and Somerset Police Area. 

Anyone who isn’t registered to vote won’t be able to take part and have their say. National Voter Registration Drive exists because it’s important that anyone who’s eligible, but has not yet registered to vote, does so. It’s a chance to join the thousands of people across the UK being encouraged to register next week.

Dr Jo Farrar, Chief Executive and Electoral Registration Officer, for Bath & North East Somerset Council, said: “Anyone not yet registered to vote should do so as soon as possible so they can have their say on issues that affect their day-to-day lives. I’d urge people living in Bath and North East Somerset to use National Voter Registration Drive to spread the message amongst family and friends that it only takes a few minutes to register online.”

Going online is the quickest and easiest way to ensure that you’re registered to vote, but you can also request a form  to be posted to you by calling 01225 477333.

Bathnes Council Tax rise cause for concern

Residents are to be hit with a financial double whammy in the coming financial year, according to Lib Dems in B&NES. The Conservative-run Council has today confirmed that local Council Tax will be raised by a total of 3.25%. However Lib Dems are warning that this will not meet the budget gap and that cuts to public services and increases in fees and charges are to be expected.

Lib Dem Group Leader Dine Romero (Southdown) said:

“This budget announcement is short on detail and long on passing the buck. What is particularly concerning is that the Cabinet appears to be looking at only the next financial year. The next four years will see over £40 million of cuts to Council budgets and the Conservatives have been very secretive about where these will fall. Residents will have to expect cuts and changes to public services plus increases in fees and charges, on top of an annual Council Tax hike.” 

“This clearly shows the difference between the coalition government, which protected residents from Council Tax rises, and an unfettered Conservative government which has the knives out for local government.”

Councillor Andy Furse (Kingsmead, Lib Dem) is Lib Dem spokesperson on the budget. Andy commented:

“The 2% so-called ‘precept’ for social care is a Council Tax increase in disguise. When added to the 1.25% general Council Tax increase announced today, the total is a 3.25% rise in the coming financial year. This will come as a nasty surprise to local residents – many of whom will not be receiving any pay increase – after rates were frozen for 4 years under the Liberal Democrats. ”

“Liberal Democrats in B&NES recognise that our social care system is under a lot of pressure and that the added flexibility to draw in more funding is hard for Councils to refuse. Nevertheless, it cannot be left solely to local taxpayers to fix our chronically underfunded care system. This is a government sleight of hand to offload an expensive responsibility.”

Universal Credit Cuts

Last year Lib Dems achieved a huge victory in stopping George Osborne's tax credit cuts to low-income working families. But while the Chancellor backed down on these plans, he quietly kept plans to impose similar cuts to Universal Credit. These cuts will make millions of people in work worse off from 2017, cutting their income by more than £1,000 per year. It's unfair punishment for people just trying to get by. These cuts will affect the same people as the Tax Credit cuts, just in a few years’ time rather than in April this year so we have to stop them. We cannot stand by while the lives of those on low-incomes are made more difficult. That’s why Lib Dem MPs and Peers are fighting against the cuts. Our Peers have tabled a vote in Parliament that would stop the cuts in their tracks. Labour - just like with tax credit cuts - haven't committed yet, so it's down to us. Will you help build momentum by backing the campaign today? Add your name

Beware of bogus charity collectors in Bath

People are being warned to be wary of bogus charity collectors operating in Bath city centre, after Bath & North East Somerset Council received a number of complaints from members of the public.

The Council’s Trading Standards and Licensing teams have received reports of emotive causes being used by street cash collectors carrying buckets – who do not represent a registered charity – in order to part unsuspecting residents and visitors with their money.

The council are very concerned that people may be duped into believing that they are giving money to a registered charity when this is not actually the case. As well as it being troubling for anyone caught out in this way, it’s also unfair on the many legitimate charities who may be missing out on vital donations.

Some of the individuals that we’ve received complaints about have the materials you would normally associate with legitimate charity collectors, such as branded outfits or buckets. However, the causes they are collecting for are rather more ambiguous which leads us to question whether any of the monies donated are reaching good causes after all.”

All street charity collectors need to have a permit from Bath & North East Somerset Council, with the exception of those who are specifically selling periodical publications rather than collecting donations.

If you’re unsure about giving money to a street collector:

• Ask the collector what their registered charity number is and look it up if necessary
• Ask the street collector how much of the money they receive actually goes to charity.

Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Trading Standards team is keen to hear from anyone who believes they have been approached by unregistered street collectors, or who may have given money believing them to be genuine charity collectors. Please get in touch via the Citizens Advice Consumer helpline on 0345 4040506.

Planning Committee to be pod cast

The development control committee on Bath and North East Somerset Council is to be pod cast in a trial last for 3 months thanks to Liberal Democrat Councillor Paul Crossley who persuaded the committee to a agree the trail period.

I hope that this will become permanent as public interest in planning matters is high and it would be good to see democracy in action as far as planning matters are concerned.

The Liberal Democrat administration between 2011 & 2015 introduced the Pod casting of both cabinet meetings and Full Council so adding planning committee is a natural development.

Bathnes Tories rack up problems?

The conservative administration on Bath & North East Somerset Council have certainly got off to a rocky start in their taste of real power.

It could be assumed that with 37 Councillors and a sitting MP they would have an easy time far from it.

So what hurdles have they failed to jump so far?

1) Total chaos in their efforts to deliver a park and ride site to the east of Bath with residents up in arms after they were not listened to.

2) Huge Cuts proposed to Adult services pushed down form government.

3) Recycling not being collected properly for weeks now and no resolution in sight.

4) Additional Housing could be dumped in Bathnes to meet Bristol Shortfall (numbers could be in thousands).

5) Mayoral referendum to take place for an elected Mayor for Bath & North East Somerset.

6) This years Council budget could show the first increase in Council Tax for 6 years,

These are just a few of the issues that they are failing to resolve how may more will they rack up in the coming months.

Deadline for B&NES home improvement grant approaching

Hurry to access Council home improvement grant

Bath & North East Somerset Council currently has a grant of up to £6,000 available through the Energy at Home scheme to help you make energy saving improvements to your home. 

The grant can be used to help cover the costs of improvements such as:

• improved heating systems (including gas and oil fired systems, and electric storage heaters),
• internal, external, or cavity wall insulation, and loft insulation, 
• upgraded glazing including secondary glazing, double glazing and external doors,
• and renewable energy technologies.

Installing measures like these can help improve your home’s energy performance, reduce the amount you spend on your energy bills, and help keep your home warm and cosy over the winter.

This grant is available to all home owners, private landlords and privately renting tenants.  You do not need to be on a low income or an elderly person to be eligible for this grant, but you do need to be signed up before the end of February. 

The Energy at Home scheme will continue to be available after this particular grant ends, with access to other local and national grants, however funding to this level, accessible for so many people, and for this range of measures is unlikely to be available again...
 

..so contact the Energy at Home Advice Service today!

0800 038 5680

New housing standards for rental set.

The work that I Started before the last election to drive housing rental standards has been moved forward by the council.

Landlords in Bath and North East Somerset are being encouraged to apply for accreditation under the new West of England Rental Standard.

Bath & North East Somerset Council is promoting this new scheme that sets out specific requirements that landlords and letting or management agents in the private rented sector should reach – with the aim of driving up standards for tenants.

Through this scheme a single badge of quality accreditation will be awarded to all landlords and letting agents who meet a set of requirements. Nearly 18% of homes in Bath and North East Somerset are privately rented - that’s 13,730 privately rented homes. We want to drive up standards and help tenants to rent with more confidence, protecting them by exposing poor landlords and agents.

“The benefit to landlords and agents is that they will be easily recognised as complying with a recognised standards and procedures. However it is a voluntary scheme, and does not replace the enforcement tools available to the Council to make landlords comply with minimum standards.”

The West of England Rental Standard will endorse organisations and, through them, their members, not individual properties. The endorsed organisation will be expected to ensure that its members (individual landlords or agents) meet and continue to meet the membership requirements.

Letting agents and landlord organisations can now apply to join the scheme atwww.westofenglandrentalstandard.co.uk

Applications can be completed online and need to be returned with a fee of £300 by February 2016. The fee for following two years is £150 per year. This will be used to pay for the advertising and promotional costs of the scheme. The successful organisations will be announced in March 2016.

The West of England Rental Standard will replace a voluntary accreditation standard for rented accommodation that was agreed across the West of England some years ago. Bristol City Council will administer the scheme on behalf of the four West of England authorities for an initial period of three years.

Council to take measures to curb rise in unauthorised advertisements

The council are at long last going to take some action on the amount of unauthorised advertisements on our streets.

I know from bitter experience of the problems with posters on boards on our highways and footpaths as I am sure many other residents are.

Local businesses and organisations who want to advertise on roadsides must have consent before they can legally display an advert.

Over the past year Bath & North East Somerset Council has seen a significant rise in complaints about unauthorised advertisements across the district, principally banners being displayed along roadsides. 

Whilst there are some exemptions in the regulations (usually relating to banners advertising a specific event) the majority of these advertisements require consent and it is an offence to display them without consent.

In an effort to reduce the detrimental visual impact these adverts are having, in both rural and urban areas, the Council is to bring in measures set out in the Town and Country Planning Act to remove unauthorised banners. 

From January 18, 2016, anyone displaying an unauthorised banner or placard will be given 7 days’ notice to voluntarily remove the advert. If the advert is not removed the Council will remove it for them and store it for a limited period. There will be a fee of £50 for administering the removal and storage of the unauthorised adverts.

Details of how to make an application can be found on the Council’s website athttp://www.bathnes.gov.uk/roadside-ads

There is also a useful Government guide to advertisinghttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/11499/326679.pdf

Anyone wishing to discuss these measures, or seeking advice about how to make an application can contact the Council’s planning department on 01225 394041

Beware rogue tree surgeons

Members of the public are urged to be vigilant of rogue tree surgeons after numerous reports of cold-call tradesmen operating across Bath and North East Somerset.

“Several local residents have been approached by tradesmen posing as qualified tree surgeons offering to cut down or provide maintenance to garden trees in exchange for cash."

Not only is this potentially dangerous for the tradesmen, it can also cause lasting damage to the tree, possible damage to the property and, in some cases, may result in enforcement action from the Council.”

Bath and many of its surrounding villages and hamlets are covered by Conservation Area designations. In addition, some trees (including trees located in private gardens) may be subject to a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) – which protects specific trees, groups of trees or woodlands in the interests of amenity. The Council must be notified six weeks in advance of intended works to a tree located within a Conservation Area or covered by a TPO unless a specific exemption applies (such as where a tree poses a risk to the public). To cut down, uproot or destroy a tree covered by a TPO or within a Conservation Area, or to authorise such an action to take place, is considered an offence under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. Rogue tree surgeons are therefore leaving landowners potentially liable to criminal prosecution.

Work to trees will often require careful consideration by an experienced Arboriculturalist or a person who is practiced in assessing the health of trees and their appropriate management. Tree works should also ideally be undertaken outside of the bird nesting season (March – October) to prevent destruction of eggs and harm to birds protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

The Council would advise anyone who is considering undertaking or contracting work to trees on their property to first ensure that the trees are not located within a Conservation Area or covered by a TPO. The Arboricultural Association provides a Directory of Tree Surgeons on their website which lists professional, qualified tree surgeons by name, area or postcode. The website also contains information relating to good tree care.

If residents remain in doubt as to the works that can be undertaken to trees covered by a TPO or located within a Conservation Area they can contact the Council for further advice and guidance by emailing Trees_andWoodlands@BATHNES.GOV.UK or calling 01225 394041.