To receive Questions from the Public, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.
Minutes:
A question was received from Mr McGibbon
“When will the committee be issuing a formal response to the email I sent to Cllr Rustidge on 25 August 2025?”
The Chair gave the following response to the question:
The minutes of the last meeting of this committee from 23rd June include the report and discussion on the tree-planting concerns raised by Mr McGibbon in his email of 28th August.
While I apologise that I have not replied directly to Mr McGibbon’s email – the Deputy Chief Executive of the Council did provide an email response on 3rd September confirming a site visit to discuss the agreed resolutions from the committee meeting and the concerns he had raised.
Mr McGibbon replied to this email on Friday 5th September at 15:23 cancelling the site visit meeting stating he was awaiting a resolution to his emails to me.
I’m hoping following the minutes of the June meeting being agreed tonight, that I would like to ask the Deputy Chief Executive to once again write to Mr McGibbon on the Committee’s behalf to re-arrange the site visit and implement the recommendations agreed.”
The Chair invited the member of the public to speak who set out the nature of his concern and insisted upon a response from the committee. It was noted that he had met with the Chief Executive and the Borough Solicitor and that no response had been provided until after his message to Councillor Rustidge.
It was noted that the resolution of the member of the public was to remove all the trees, but that some of the trees may have been beneficial, and that it was in the remit of the committee to decide this.
Members queried whether the deed expressly forbid trees being planted and it was advised that it doesn’t, but notes the use of the land for playing fields. The deed also does not preclude trees from being planted on the periphery or for buildings to be built on the periphery either.
The member of the public was asked what he wanted from the meeting and it was advised he wanted some public confidence and for the public to be informed. It was also noted he wanted independent legal advice on whether any tree planting was permitted as part of the deed and whether they were beneficial to the playing fields if they were permitted. It was advised that the deed would be forwarded on to members for their information.
Councillor Sheldon put forward the following proposals to resolve the issue
- That communication between the Charitable trust and Clayton field users be improved, if and when any further works are proposed for the fields.
- That all trees are removed from the fields other than those around the perimeter of the fields.
- That regular tree inspection is made of all the trees on the fields, in line with the borough tree inspection policy.
Councillor Sheldon proposed and Councillor Ball seconded the proposals.
Members requested a recorded vote.
4 members voted in favour of the proposals – Councillors Ball, Charters, Rustidge and Sheldon
1 member voted against the proposals – Councillor Marland
RESOLVED: That the proposals be carried.
Members queried whether public questions could be provided to the committee in advance of the meeting in future.