Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Neighbourhoods and Development attached.

Decision made:

1.    That Cabinet approves the tree planting plan detailed in the report and will provide on-going support, feedback and suggestions that can help shape/inform the ongoing process.

2.    That Cabinet authorises capital expenditure on this scheme over a four year period up to the overall budget of £160,000 to be allocated from the approved Green Links capital budgets.

The Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Susan Jones presented a report of the Director of Neighbourhoods and Development that detailed the environmental benefits of planting 110,00 trees, one tree for each of our residents and how we are proposing to achieve this. The report also sought views on the proposed programme of delivery.

The Council already has in place a two for one replacement policy if trees are lost as part of development schemes, along with a scheme that encourages residents to purchase tress in the arboretum at Worden Park.

All trees would be planted between November and March and Members were provided with a four year planting programme that outlines where and how many trees would be planted.

In response to a question raised by Councillor Caroline Moon, assurances were provided that maintenance of the trees would form part of the Council’s ongoing maintenance programme with the cost being met from existing revenue budgets. The annual maintenance budget would however be reviewed periodically to asses if the additional maintenance requirements of the initiative causes any budget pressures.

Although there was general support from all Councillors across the Chamber, with thanks being given to Councillors Ken and Susan Jones, some Members asked the Council to be mindful as to where the trees would be planted so as not to dramatically change a place or a landscape.

Councillor David Howarth also requested that plans be drawn up for residents of the Borough.

Decision made (Unanimously):

1.    That Cabinet approves the tree planting plan detailed in the report and will provide on-going support, feedback and suggestions that can help shape/inform the ongoing process.

2.    That Cabinet authorises capital expenditure on this scheme over a four year period up to the overall budget of £160,000 to be allocated from the approved Green Links capital budgets.

Reason(s) for the decision:

1.     The reason for the report is to provide Cabinet with the proposals to plant 110,000 trees, one tree for each of our residents as part of a key part of the plan to combat climate change. The Council is focused on the environment, improving the air we breathe and having the right plans in place to safeguard and protect our natural environment.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

1.     An alternative to whip planting is standard tree planting. A standard is a single stemmed tree with multiple branches. Larger trees are heavy standards and extra-heavy standards.

The lowest price of a small standard tree can be £10-15 dependent upon numbers purchased. Ten times the cost of a whip. Based on this figure the lowest budget cost for planting standards could be as high as £1.1m, making the project financially unviable.

There would also be significant labour costs involved in planting 110,000 standard trees.