PLACE DIRECTORATE

Ian Saxon Assistant Executive Director Environmental Services Mr Elson Ashton Market Hall, Market Street, By email: Ashton-under-Lyne, , OL6 7JU

Call Centre 0161-342-8355 [email protected] www.tameside.gov.uk email: [email protected]

Doc Ref FOI 5248 Ask for Ian Saxon Direct Line 0161 342 3470 Date 26 July 2016

Dear Mr Elson,

Freedom of Information – Request for Information Unique Reference: FOI 5248

Thank you for your request for information dated 1 July 2016, which the Council received by email. You have requested the following information:

1. A copy of information published to the Council's staff (whether staff handbook, intranet or whatever) setting out how legal advice may be obtained from the Borough Solicitor or her staff. 2. A copy of the Council's guidance, procedures, protocols (or whatever) for staff regarding the use of official council accounts on the internet. 3. A copy of the decision / authorisation or whatever requiring and / or allowing the 'control' of ragwort at, or including, . 4. A copy of the costing re 3 5. A copy of the most recent botanical survey of, or including, Hartshead Pike in the Council's possession. 6. A copy of the most recent entomological survey of, or including, Hartshead Pike in the Council's possession. 7. A copy of the most recent land management document relating to Hartshead Pike. 8. A copy of the most recent map or plan or whatever showing the extent of the land at Hartshead Pike that the Council owns or is responsible for. 9. A copy of any entry in the Council's Asset Register, or such like, relating to the land owned by the Council at Hartshead Pike. 10. A copy of the contents of the Council's land ownership file relating to Hartshead Pike.

I am pleased to advise the Council can provide the information you have requested.

1. Under section 21 of the Act, the Council is not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you. You may access the information

that you have requested via the Council’s website using the following link http://www.tameside.gov.uk/constitution.

2. Under section 21 of the Act, the Council is not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you. You may access the information that you have requested via the Council’s website using the following link www.tameside.gov.uk/socialmedia

3. The fields surrounding Hartshead Pike are all pasture land. TMBC have been controlling Ragwort on land managed by the council at Hartshead Pike on an ad hoc basis i.e. as and when required over the last few years. We recognise that removal is not a legal requirement, but more of a code of practice to avoid Ragwort spreading from council managed land onto neighbouring pasture land. Please refer to: www.gov.uk/guidance/prevent-the-spread-of-harmful-invasive-and-non-native-plants

4. As in most of these occurrences Greenspace volunteers are used. In this particular case, there were 3 volunteers involved at a cost to the council of approximately £12.90. This is broken down into lunch allowance and travel expenses. The supervising Greenspace Development Officer and other volunteers (on the same day) were involved in dry stone wall repairs.

5. Botanical surveys have not been carried out on this site.

6. Entomological surveys have not carried out on this site.

7. The most recent land management document is the April 2016 inspection document. Please see attachment FOI 5248A

8, 9 & 10 please see map, attachment FOI 5248A1

If you have any queries about this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me.

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a complaint, or request a review of the Council's decision, please write to Sandra J Stewart, Borough Solicitor, at Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council, Town Hall, Dukinfield, Tameside SK16 4LA

If you are not content with the outcome your complaint, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Commissioner cannot normally make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the Council. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AF and at www.ico.gov.uk.

Yours sincerely,

Ian Saxon Assistant Executive Director Environmental Services