Issue - meetings

The Arboricultural Officer:

a.    advised members of the reasons for proposed works to trees in the City Council’s ownership and sought consent to progress the works identified, as detailed at Appendix A of his report

b.    highlighted that the list did not represent all the work undertaken to Council trees, it represented all the instances where a tree was either identified for removal, or where a tree enjoyed some element of protection under planning legislation, and thus formal consent was required

c.    explained that Ward Councillors had been notified of the proposed works.

Members requested further clarification on the reference within the schedule of work to trees in Abbey Ward located at the Allenby Road junction with Rookery Lane?

The Arboricultural Officer apologised for quoting the wrong location for the trees, which were actually located close to Wickes Building Supplies on the Allenby Road junction.

Members referred to the reference within the work to trees at Hartsholme Country Park and asked why pollarding works had been requested on a tree with a substantial defect?

The Arboricultural Officer advised that the tree in question was a mature specimen approximately 15 meters tall. The tree had a large open crack 5 metres in length and was starting to degrade. Pollarding would allow the retention of the tree whilst also reducing the risk of catastrophic collapse. It was hopeful the tree may regenerate and be saved.

RESOLVED that tree works set out in the schedules appended to the report be approved.