Views are being sought on how neighbourly disputes over high hedges can be resolved more effectively.Quick check of the diary, nope 1st of April’s long past, they’re serious.
This could include encouraging the inclusion of hedge height limits in property title deeds, better mediation options, or examining the case for a new law on the issue.
So if you’re sitting comfortably children, then Community Safety Minister Fergus will, rather patronisingly, begin:
"High hedge disputes should be a relatively trivial matter, with those involved resolving things with a simple neighbourly chat.Of course, a "consultation" has now been requisitioned, which will then be followed by a "full analysis" and obviously a "comprehensive report"- a whole army of "Community Wellbeing and Safety Spokespersons" is, no doubt, being mobilised as we speak.
"But for those involved, the issue can sometimes be far from trivial and we have seen from recent cases that such disputes can, in a relatively small number of instances, get out of hand.
"What starts off as an amicable discussion can often spiral out of control leading to confrontation and antisocial behaviour in our communities."
I am a natural cynic, but even so, the key line for me, hidden amongst all the "We are the World", "Why can't we be friends?" "He's not my stroppy neighbour aggressively wearing a pair of shears...he's my brother" emotions was this :
"Of course, there is existing legislation in place to deal with any dispute which does get out of hand..."OK, stop there.
On a completely unrelated matter:
Labour last night called for an official inquiry after it was revealed that overtime payments for Scottish Government ministers' staff "shot through the roof" by £83,000 in just two years despite there being half the number of cabinet ministers under Alex Salmond's premiership than there was under Jack McConnell's.Right...and the explanation?
Data released by Holyrood's Freedom of Information Unit following an FoI request shows that between 2006/7 and 2008/9 the additional payments made to staff directly involved in the work of ministers rose by 12.5%, from £664,256 to £747,186.
The cumulative three-year total of these on-call allowances and overtime payments, which relate to the three areas of work - the government car service (GCS), communications and ministerial private offices (MPO) - cost taxpayers more than £2m.
The Scottish Government put the rise in costs down to increased ministerial activity while a source close to the First Minister claimed it was due to SNP ministers "working far harder" than their Labour predecessors.Hmmm...doing what exactly, making sure Scotland's hedges are short, back and clipped?
7 comments:
Eyes roll. How long before a MLA is seeking something similar here? I
f people chose to be uncivil the solution is not to bureaucratise the process and socialise the cost. If a citizen wants to fight petty battles let them do it at their own expense.
Hmm. Hate to tell you this but ......
England already has legislation on high hedges which was brought in initially by Steve Pound as a private members bill. It was then incorporated into legislation by the Westminster Government.
In Scotland similar legislation was proposed by Scott Barrie MSP and is being taken forward in this admimistration by the Scottish Government. It is not however an SNP idea but part of the programme of work they inherited.
Essentially they are bringing the law in Scotland into line with what exists in England and Wales. It is quite entertaining to see unionists angry about that!
A consultation has already been carried out in Northern Ireland which, according to the then Environment Minister Angela Smith supported 'the need for legislation to address this issue and the Department will take that legislation forward when a place can be secured in the legislative programme.'
In the interests of fairness I am sure you will be happy to denounce the Westminster Government and Parliament since they started this ball rolling .....
What's wrong with a government wanting to improve current legislation? I thought that's what politicians did.
These leylandi hedges can cause so much damage to a property, plus they grow at a rate of knots. The surface roots are capable of getting under the foundations of a well built garage in 10 years and the hedge could grown 30 feet in that time.
The present legal system is drawn out and it's right the law should be speeded up.
Far too much taxpayers money is spent on this problem these days so speedier legal solutions will save money all round.
Beware buying a house anywhere near leylandi hedges or watch out for a neighbour planting the damned things.
You're buying trouble if you ignore the warnings.
"It is quite entertaining to see unionists angry about that!"
I appear to be the only Unionist bothered, more a case of laughing rather than getting angry though
A consultation has already been carried out in Northern Ireland which, according to the then Environment Minister Angela Smith supported 'the need for legislation to address this issue and the Department will take that legislation forward when a place can be secured in the legislative programme.'
See? you should be more careful when speculating out loud Fair Deal;)
In the interests of fairness I am sure you will be happy to denounce the Westminster Government and Parliament since they started this ball rolling .....
If that's indeed the case, I most certainly will be. I can see and quite happily condemn the idiocy of the UK's government when it occurs...are you permitted to employ the same standard of discrimination with *your* government?
Beware buying a house anywhere near leylandi hedges or watch out for a neighbour planting the damned things.
First case the potential buyer should open his eyes, second have a word with the neighbour- if not happy and he's broken the law then as the SNPer quoted admits the law is already there to deal with the question.
But really, with a tightening budget and the various social and economic problems abounding do you really think this is what the (apparently) overworked minster should be concerning himself with?
No O'Neill I said quite clearly that the law does NOT exist in Scotland - it exists in England and Wales but not yet in Scotland.
The consultation being carried out is the precursor to appropriate legislation being introduced in Scotland.
There are no significant cost implications to it - essentially it will give local authorities the power to force owners to cut their hedges when they start to block out the sunlight or damage their neighbour's property.
Of course, there is existing legislation in place to deal with any dispute which does get out of hand..."
That's from the Minister and that's the only law needed.
Anything that involves "consultation", "reports" and all the other bureaucratspeak you can bet will involve cost- these people simply don't do it for the goodness of the heart.
Finally...juts because a (imo idiotic) law exists in England, wales and NI why do you as a Scottish nationalist think it should be extended to Scotland- is it simply because the SNP have suggested it?
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