Cabinet Member for Environment

Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Commissioning and Customer Contact and the above Cabinet Member which set out details of a new draft Tree Policy and identified the next steps for consultation and adoption.

The Cabinet Member expressed his thanks to officers, and advised that the draft Tree Policy had been considered by the Policy Development and Review Committee (PDRC) in January 2015.

A Member requested that consideration be given to the title of the document as the Policy was about health and safety, maintenance of Council-owned trees, and risk assessments, rather than a policy for planting of trees and biodiversity.

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration expressed sympathy for this view and suggested that the Council should be engaging with national organisations to preserve and track tree numbers in the Borough.

The Cabinet Member for Housing considered that this Policy was a wise and cautious approach for the Council, particularly for insurance purposes, and it was an important part of the Council’s duty to maintain the trees.

The Leader suggested that the PDRC may wish to consider undertaking a review that looked at increasing biodiversity and tree numbers as part of a future work programme.

RESOLVED:

(1)  That the report be noted and the proposed consultation be agreed.

(2)  That authority be delegated to the Head of Commissioning and Customer Contact, in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Environment to agree the final Tree Policy following consultation.