AQW 1605/22-27

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 16/06/2022
Answered On Date: 24/06/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (i) what consideration he has given to the disparity of charges, between local councils, for complaints in relation to the High Hedges Act (Northern Ireland) 2011; and (ii) whether there is a planned review, with a view to standardising this charge.

Answer:

The High Hedges (Fee) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 made provision for councils to charge a fee for investigating a complaint under the High Hedges Act (Northern Ireland) 2011. The level of fee is determined by individual councils, subject to a maximum of £360.

Correspondence between my officials and local councils indicates that the majority of councils charge the maximum fee and there are no plans to review the charges.