Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Sarah Mead.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive an officer presentation updating Members on the Tree & Woodland Strategy and the Green Space Strategy.

The Chair introduced the item by providing an overview of the evening's topics, focusing on updates to the Tree & Woodland Strategy and the Green Spaces Strategy. They emphasised the importance of green spaces, not only for their aesthetic value but also for their crucial role in supporting physical and mental health, biodiversity, and carbon capture in urban environments.

The Chair framed the session as a discussion about the management of woodlands and green spaces, with an emphasis on community engagement and collaboration with stakeholders to enhance and maintain these areas, underscoring the importance of involving the community in the planning and management of green spaces and highlighting the benefits of collaborative efforts in achieving sustainable and effective outcomes.

The Chair invited officers to present to the Committee.

The Environmental Policy and Development Manager advised the Committee public engagement had included online consultations and in-person sessions, receiving around 400 responses. The strategies would undergo revisions in April and May2025, aiming for Cabinet approval in June 2025, with final publication in Summer 2025.

The Arboriculture and Conservation Manager outlined the draft 10-year plan for the Tree & Woodland Strategy, reflecting best practices and stakeholder consultations. Key highlights of the presentation included:

Benefits of trees:

Wildlife, climate change mitigation, health.

Success story:

Creation of three micro woodlands with a £36,000 grant from Defra.

Miyawaki Woodland Project:

High initial survival rate of trees, with natural die-off over time.

Strategy themes: expanding canopy cover, volunteer programs, management plans, biodiversity, and climate resilience.

Historic Environment and Tree Preservation:

Importance of protecting old trees, especially oak and ash.

Replacement policy for tree removal: 3:1 ratio, potentially increasing to 21:1 for significant trees.

Tree Selection and Maintenance:

Careful selection of tree species to avoid infrastructure damage.

Review process: 10-year strategy reviewed every five years, with interim updates every two years.

Members asked a number of questions, covering a number of topics, which were answered by Officers as set out below:

Resource Constraints:

Officers acknowledged historical budget cuts but noted recent funding successes and hopes for future funding.

Tree interception rates and their impact on the urban water cycle:

Officers advised they would follow up on the technical question.

Tree Planting in Streets:

Officers advised of careful planning and species selection to minimise issues.

Balancing Tree Planting and Park Space:

Officers emphasised the need to balance tree planting with future park space demands for sports, noting the importance of shaded spaces in parks.

Tree Removal for Energy Generation:

Officers reassured that trees were not removed solely for energy generation and emphasised planting fast-growing species for biomass.

Tree Replacement in Developments:

Officers explained the replacement policy and ongoing challenges with developers.

Wildfire Risk:

A Member commented about increasing wildfire risk and the need for specific action plans. Officers acknowledged the need for future planning and collaboration with the county council.

Community Projects with Felled Trees:

A Member inquired about reusing felled tree material for community projects.

Officers mentioned providing wood chip or logs to schools and community groups.

Ecological Value of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

To consider any Part 1 business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

There was no Urgent Part I Business.

To consider the following motions –

1.  That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraphs1 – 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended by Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

2.  That Members consider the reasons for the following reports being in Part II and determine whether or not maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

Not required.

To consider any Part II business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

There was no Urgent Part II Business.