THE council is anticipating a wave of applications for it to rule on high hedge disputes between neighbours when new legislation comes into force next month.
On Monday planning committee members agreed to set a £400 fee for applications for a High Hedge Notice, and agreed for decisions to be delegated to officers, but with the option for the committee to make a ruling.
Development control manager John Hayward said around 40 cases are “waiting in the wings” for the legislation to come into force on April 1 in Scotland.
Following an application for a notice by the aggrieved neighbour, officers will need to carrying out a technical examination of the hedge and issues such as light.
Mr Hayward said he expects almost all cases will end up going to appeal due to the strength of feeling of both parties involved in such cases.
The committee were told that appeals will go to Scottish ministers, through the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals
Officers had recommended a fee of £382, however an amendment by Councillor Simon Mountford to raise that to £400 was agreed after members heard that the cost of dealing with the applications could be over £400.
The procedures will be reviewed in six months.