Agenda item

The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services submits a report incorporating the 2025-2030 Tree Strategy, 2019-2024 Tree Data and Communications Launch Information.

The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services submitted a report incorporating the 2025-2030 Tree Strategy, 2019-2024 Tree Data and Communications Launch Information.

Key points included:

The Head of Parks and Open Spaces outlined the structure of the strategy. Key points to note were as follows:

• The first Leicester tree strategy was adopted in 2018 to sustain and increase tree stock, and the quality of the city’s trees. It also promoted the important role of trees for the environment and flood risk management.
• An annual review monitored the delivery of the strategy.
• The five key strategic objectives were:
  • Promoting amenity
  • Promoting habitat and wildlife
  • Responding to global obligations
  • Managing pressure on trees in other ownerships
  • Delivering a strategy
• 22 actions were devised in line with these aims.
• A five-year review had taken place.
• The strategy had worked well and a refresh had taken place to include nine targets for Education and Community Engagement.
• A section on Ash dieback was now included within the strategy.

The Trees and Woodlands Manager gave an overview of the outcomes over the five years. It was noted that:

• There were 1290 sites with trees. The aim was for 20% of the sites to be surveyed annually. This was almost met, with an average of 19% and currently this was at around 24%.
• The total for large planting was 2000 trees, small planting amounted to over 36,000 trees.
• The Forestry Commission ran government schemes which assists with mass planting.
• On average, almost 600 trees were felled annually and the number of re-planting was on par with this figure.
• Formal complaints were relatively low.
• Work was divided between proactive and reactive work. Proactive being the cyclical surveys, and reactive work responding to storm damage. Work was in line with planned targets.
• There was a successful establishment rate for young trees, despite a drought year. Any trees that failed would be taken account for, a further tree would be planted the following year.
• Vandalism and dog attacks contributed to loss of trees.
• Ash dieback continued to have an impact, this had taken hold but was still in the early stages. 45% of felled trees were due to Ash dieback.
• Bio-mass was created from wood chip and logs, meaning that there was zero waste.
• The Trees and Woodland Team worked alongside the Planning Team.
• Work included:
  • The planning applications process involving trees
  • Tree Preservation order and conservation applications, which averaged out at around 150 protected trees within the city.
  • Emergency call out work, there was a duty of care for any tree falling which resulted in a highway blockage.
  • Planning contraventions for illegally felled trees.
• The Trees and woodland team underwent significant training to comply with health and safety legislation.
• Full details of annual reviews were available on the council website.
• There would be a main communications launch in late May 2025 to include more information.
• Work would be ongoing with the Tree Wardens and the Environment teams.
• A celebration on the city’s veteran trees would come.
• Competitions run at schools had met with success.
• Activities such as Mapping Edible Leicester and Tree Trails were also taking place.
• A replacement tree planting ceremony was planned to take place in Abbey Park.

The Committee were invited to ask questions and make comments. Key points included:

• The trees and Woodlands team were thanked for their work.
• All Council trees are managed by the Trees and Woodlands team, these are mainly on Parks, Housing or Highways land.  There were 189,600 trees on the database. Any issues with newly planted trees should be reported to Trees and Woodlands.  Trees would be formed and pruned as they got older but were often best left alone for the first few years due to post-planting stress.
• With regard to issues surrounding a tree in Thurncourt in need of maintenance, this tree would be visited to ascertain what action would be needed.
• In response to a query about trees and planning issues and replacing removed trees, it was note that trees could be an issue in relation to subsidence due to the clay underneath the city.  For every significant tree that was removed, it was aimed to plant more than one more, sometimes this could be more than two more.  In some cases, trees could not be planted in the same place due to damage caused or due to underground services such as cables and/or drains.  In these cases, it was aimed to plant in the same Ward, or if this was not possible, elsewhere in the city.  If another tree was not planted, there would be a very good reason for it.
• If a private tree was not in a conservation zone or subject to a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), it was up to the private resident as to what to do with the tree.  If a tree was protected, it came under planning law and the resident would need to say what they were doing with the tree and provide tree reports.
• Some planning applications caused trees to be removed, and sometimes re-planting needed to occur under planning conditions.  Any application needed a 10% biodiversity net gain, and trees were a part of this.
• With regard to points made about engagement with schools and education, it was noted that Tree Wardens were voluntary, but it was recognised that engagement with schools and children was good.  It was noted that children had been involved in the Tiny Forests scheme and the Leicester Volunteers scheme.
• With regard to a query about staffing figures, figures could be provided on this.  It was noted that there were more staff than there previously had been.  Whilst there had been significant reductions in the wider Parks & Open Spaces budget, the Trees and Woodlands budget had been protected. It was further noted that the service had not been outsourced as it had in other Councils and that authorities that outsourced may not have a tree strategy. 

AGREED:

1)    That the report be noted.

2)    That a report be brought to the Commission on the involvement with schools and education.

3)    That members of the Commission be invited to the launch.

4)    That comments made by members of this commission to be taken into account.

Councillor Cutkelvin left the meeting during the consideration of this item.