Amendments proposed to the High Hedges (N�. 2I Bill - continued	House of Commons
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Mr Andrew Dismore

8

Page     2,     line     27     [Clause     3],     leave out 'wholly or mainly'.

   

Mr Andrew Dismore

9

Page     2,     line     30     [Clause     3],     at end insert 'which may include a dwelling in multi-occupation.'.

   

Mr Christopher Chope

48

Page     2,     line     31     [Clause     3],     leave out subsection (3).

   

Mr Christopher Chope
Mr Edward Leigh
Mr John Gummer
Mr Greg Knight
Sir Paul Beresford

83

Page     2,     line     38     [Clause     4],     leave out '(if any)'.

   

Mr Christopher Chope
Mr Edward Leigh
Mr John Gummer
Mr Greg Knight
Sir Paul Beresford

90

Page     2,     line     38     [Clause     4],     at end insert—

    '(1A)   The authority shall dismiss a complaint if the height of the hedge in metres is less than

D 2

+ 2,

       where D is the distance in metres between the hedge and the nearest outside window wall of the complainant's property'.

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Mr Andrew Dismore
Mr Christopher Chope

10

Page     3,     line     2     [Clause     4],     leave out 'may' and insert 'shall'.

   

Mr Andrew Dismore
Mr Christopher Chope

12

Page     3,     line     2     [Clause     4],     at end insert—

'( )

for the purposes of this section, reasonable steps shall include at least one meeting with the owner or occupier of the adjoining land on which the hedge is situated, unless that person has refused to meet or the complainant has reasonable grounds to fear for his personal safety if such a meeting was to be held.'.

   

Mr Christopher Chope
Mr Edward Leigh
Mr John Gummer
Mr Greg Knight
Sir Paul Beresford

81

Page     3,     line     2     [Clause     4],     at end insert—

    '( )   For the purposes of this section reasonable steps shall include at least one meeting with the owner or occupier of the neighbouring land and an offer to share any costs of reducing the height of the hedges'.

   

Mr Christopher Chope

52

Page     3,     line     3     [Clause     4],     leave out subsection (3) and insert—

    '(3)   If the authority do not so decide, they must decide—

(a)	whether the complainant's reasonable enjoyment of the domestic property specified in the complaint is being affected by an unreasonable obstruction of light caused by a high hedge so specified; and

(b)	if so, what action (if any) should be required to be taken in relation to that hedge, in pursuance of a remedial notice under section 5, with a view to remedying any such obstruction or preventing its recurrence.'.

   

Mr Christopher Chope
Mr Edward Leigh
Mr John Gummer
Mr Greg Knight
Sir Paul Beresford

84

Page     3,     line     4     [Clause     4],     after 'whether', insert 'the obstruction of light caused by'.

   

Mr Andrew Dismore

11

Page     3,     line     7     [Clause     4],     leave out '(if any)'.

   

Mr Andrew Dismore
Mr Christopher Chope

13

Page     3,     line     9     [Clause     4],     at end insert—

    '( )   for the purposes of this section, in deciding whether a hedge is having an adverse effect, the authority shall have regard to—

(a)	the height of the hedge when viewed from the complainant's property;

(b)	the distance the hedge is situated from domestic buildings on the complainant's property;

(c)	the length of time the hedge has been growing;

(d)	whether the complainant was first in occupation before or after the planting of the hedge;

(e)	whether the area is urban, suburban or rural;

(f)	the likely cost of remedial action;

(g)	the means of the owner or occupier of the neighbouring land;

(h)	for how long the owner or occupier of the neighbouring land has been owner or occupier.'.

   

Mr Christopher Chope

37

Page     3,     line     9     [Clause     4],     at end insert—

    '( )   The authority must, when acting under subsection (3), take into consideration all matters appearing to them to be relevant, including in particular (so far as appearing to be relevant)—

(a)	the extent to which the high hedge in question is capable of affording (or, if reduced in height, would still be capable of affording) privacy to an occupier of the neighbouring land,

(b)	the extent to which that hedge contributes (or, if reduced in height, would still contribute) to the amenity of the neighbourhood, and

(c)	any legal obligation (whether imposed by or under any enactment or otherwise) relating to that hedge.'.

   

Mr Christopher Chope
Mr Edward Leigh
Mr John Gummer
Mr Greg Knight
Sir Paul Beresford

96

Page     3,     line     9     [Clause     4],     at end insert—

    '( )   The authority must when acting under subsection (3) take into consideration all matters appearing to them to be relevant, including in particular any guidance issued by the Secretary of State or the National Assembly for Wales'.

   

Mr Christopher Chope
Mr Edward Leigh
Mr John Gummer
Mr Greg Knight
Sir Paul Beresford

82

Page     3,     line     35     [Clause     4],     leave out subsection (7) and insert 'A fee determined under subsection (1)(b) shall cover the reasonably foreseeable costs to be incurred by the authority in considering the complaint'.

   

Mr Andrew Dismore

14

Page     3,     line     35     [Clause     4],     at end insert 'which fee shall not exceed the reasonable costs received by the local authority in considering, disposing of, and policing the outcome of the complaint.'.

   

Mr Christopher Chope
Mr Edward Leigh
Mr John Gummer
Mr Greg Knight
Sir Paul Beresford

97

Page     3,     line     36     [Clause     4],     leave out from '1(b)' to end of line 38 and insert 'shall be refunded to such extent as it exceeds the reasonable costs incurred by the authority in considering the complaint'.

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Mr Christopher Chope
Mr Edward Leigh
Mr John Gummer
Mr Greg Knight
Sir Paul Beresford

85

Page     4,     line     4     [Clause     5],     after the second 'that', insert 'the obstruction of light caused by'.

   

Mr Andrew Dismore

15

Page     4,     line     14     [Clause     5],     leave out 'is not to' and insert 'may'.

   

Mr Andrew Dismore

16

Page     4,     line     15     [Clause     5],     leave out from 'hedge' to 'or' in line 16.

   

Mr Christopher Chope
Mr Edward Leigh
Mr John Gummer
Mr Greg Knight
Sir Paul Beresford

76

Page     4,     line     15     [Clause     5],     leave out 'two' and insert 'four'.

   

Mr Christopher Chope
Mr Edward Leigh
Mr John Gummer
Mr Greg Knight
Sir Paul Beresford

73

Page     4,     line     19     [Clause     5],     leave out '28 days' and insert 'four months'.

   

Mr Andrew Dismore
Mr Christopher Chope

17

Page     4,     line     25     [Clause     5],     at end insert—

'( )	in setting the compliance period, the authority shall have regard to the season and the likely impact of the notice on the health of the trees or shrubs constituting the hedge.'.

   

Mr Christopher Chope
Mr Edward Leigh
Mr John Gummer
Mr Greg Knight
Sir Paul Beresford

86

Page     4,     line     36     [Clause     5],     after 'of', insert 'the obstruction of light caused by'.

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Mr Andrew Dismore
Mr Christopher Chope

18

Page     5,     line     8     [Clause     6],     at end insert 'but shall be a factor to be considered in any decision to exercise such a power.'.

   

Mr Christopher Chope
Mr Edward Leigh
Mr John Gummer
Mr Greg Knight
Sir Paul Beresford

65

Page     5,     line     22     [Clause     7],     leave out subsection (3).

   

Mr Andrew Dismore

19

Page     5,     line     26     [Clause     7],     leave out '28' and insert '14'.

   

Mr Christopher Chope
Mr Edward Leigh
Mr John Gummer
Mr Greg Knight
Sir Paul Beresford

63

Page     5,     line     27     [Clause     7],     at end insert—

    '( )   An appeal under this section shall be determined within six months of the receipt of the appeal by the appeal authority.'.

   

Mr Andrew Dismore
Mr Christopher Chope

20

Page     5,     line     30     [Clause     7],     leave out 'issued' and insert 'received'.

   

Mr Andrew Dismore
Mr Christopher Chope

21

Page     5,     line     31     [Clause     7],     after 'date', insert 'of receipt'.

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Mr Christopher Chope
Mr Edward Leigh
Mr John Gummer
Mr Greg Knight
Sir Paul Beresford

64

Page     6,     line     22     [Clause     8],     leave out 'including the awarding of costs'.

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Mr Christopher Chope
Mr Edward Leigh
Mr John Gummer
Mr Greg Knight
Sir Paul Beresford

57

Page     7,     line     30,     leave out Clause 10.

   

Mr Andrew Dismore
Mr Christopher Chope

22

Page     7,     line     33     [Clause     10],     after 'land', insert 'on 7 days notice in writing to the occupier'.

Prepared 11 Jul 2003