To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors P. J. Dauncey, Mrs. A. Gray and Miss. F. Short.

To receive details any details of Members nominated to attend the meeting in place of a Member of the Committee.

Councillor G. Lucas substituted for Councillor Mrs. A. Gray.

To receive any declarations of interest by Members in respect of items on the Agenda.

No declarations of interest were made.

To consider the findings of the Polytunnel Review Working Group following the review of the Voluntary Code of Practice for the use of Polytunnels in Herefordshire.

The Committee considered the findings of the Polytunnel Review Working Group following the review of the Voluntary Code of Practice for the use of Polytunnels in Herefordshire.

The Chairman reminded the Committee that Cabinet on 6th February, 2003, had adopted a Voluntary Code of Practice for the use of polytunnels and agreed that the Code be reviewed after 12 months.  On 23rd January 2004, the Committee had established a Polytunnel Review Working Group to look at the Code and agreed a scoping statement, which included the terms of reference for the review.

The Chairman of the Polytunnel Review Working Group, Councillor T. W. Hunt, took the Committee through the report on a page by page basis and particularly highlighted the following:

·         the methodology used in the review;

·         the scope of concerns or questions raised and the range of evidence gathered.

·         the advice received concerning the legal position, especially in relation to the ‘temporary’ nature of polytunnels, (section 5) and the planning position, (section 6) especially concerning the procedure for when a planning application would be required (section 6.1.7).

·         that sufficiently robust statistical detail could not be established for the Working Group to draw any final conclusion on the effect on the economic and tourism sectors in the County (Sections 7.2.13 & 9.1.1);

·         that despite claims by objectors, other local authorities did not seem to have the range of issues concerning polytunnels encountered in Herefordshire (Section 7.3).

·         Information from DEFRA indicated that the use of polytunnels did not impact any more on soil health than soft fruit grown in open fields (Section 7.4).

·         That the Working Group suggested the distance from the nearest elevation of any dwelling (currently 30 metres) be extended to 50 metres subject to the retention of the current stipulation that ‘this be subject to variation of that distance by agreement with that neighbour’.  He emphasised that the Review Group wished to see the encouragement of good neighbourliness and communication between grower and local resident and vice versa (Sections 7.8.1 & 9.1.4.4).

·         It was proposed that in view of the constant advances in polythene technology and growing methods the Code be reviewed in 12 months (Section 7.15.6 & 9.1.5).

The Working Group Chairman thanked the public, growers and organisations who had contributed their views or comments to the review.

The principal conclusions from the review, detailed at Section 9, were that:

·         A revised and strengthened Code should operate to regulate the temporary use of polytunnels

·         The distance between polytunnels and the closest dwelling should be increased from 30 to 50 metres

·         Farmers should, where possible, consider the use of less reflective, coloured, plastic

·         Polytunnels can only be used on the same site for a maximum of two years – subject to the polythene covering being removed for at least six months in each 12-month period.  Longer uses would require planning permission.

·         Polythene sheeting removed from frames after use must either be stored away from public view or removed and recycled.

·         Farmers proposing to use polytunnels on their land must submit a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.