The Tree Management Policy was adopted in 2008 and last reviewed in 2011.   The current Tree Management Policy will be the subject of discussions at the Parish Council Forum and the Scrutiny Committee in the spring of 2016.  If as a result of those discussions the Tree Management Policy needs to be revised then a report will be submitted to the CEB

The Head of Direct Services submitted a report which detailed an updated Tree Management Policy.

Cllr Smith, Board member for Leisure, Sport and Parks presented the report. She explained the main changes to the policy were writing it in a friendlier manner, and outlining people’s common law rights and the arbitration review process. She thanked the Park and Open Spaces Manager and the Tree team for all the work they had done.

The Chair thanked Cllr Smith for the work she had done.

Cllr Hollingsworth spoke on the Scrutiny Committee’s recommendation on planting fruit trees in parks and the concern about wasps. Cllr Smith said that fruit trees would be planted away from footpaths and roads so they wouldn’t be a hazard. Notices in parks would state that people could pick the fruit.

Cllr Hollingsworth said that the list of trees should say which trees should be pollarded and why eg for safety and environmental reasons.

Cllr Tanner asked if the total number of trees in the city had grown significantly.  The Park and Open Spaces Manager said he was fairly certain the number of city owned trees had stayed the same over last 10 years. Cllr Tanner asked if the Planning officers could provide the number of trees in the city to CEB members.

Cllr Simmons said that every tree would be replaced in the policy. The amount of CO2 absorbed by the different tree species could also be recorded on the tree list.

Recommendation: That the City Executive Board resolves to:

1.         Approve the draft Tree Management Policy