Issue - meetings

(i)              That Phase 6 of the Urban Tree Planting Strategy be approved for consultation and implementation in winter 2024/25 (subject to consultation responses), and authorise the Service Director – Neighbourhood Delivery to seek and accept quotations for the work in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Environment.

(ii)             That the Service Director – Neighbourhood Delivery be authjorised to bid for and accept external grant funding and secure community donations (if offered)  to contribute to the cost of the Urban Tree Planting Strategy and other related projects.

(iii)           That the expansion of the Urban Tree Planting Strategy to include rural tree planting schemes, be approved.

(iv)           That ward members in the rural areas of the Borough be invited to propose potential sites for tree planting on Borough Council land in their wards.

(v)             That up to two rural sites be included in this phase of planting, subject to consultation with the relevant community and agreement with the Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Environment.

(vi)           That designation of appropriate tree planting sites as Carbon Capture Areas in the emerging Local Plan, be authorised.

The Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Environment introduced a report seeking Cabinet approval to progress Phase 6 of tree planting under the Urban Tree Planting Strategy and to expand the strategy to include planting in selected sites in rural villages.

Reference was made to the table at paragraph 2.3 of the report which listed the sites selected for Phase 6.

The Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning was thanked for including the Urban Tree Planting Strategy in the emerging local plan.

The Leader  supported this and suggested that ‘Urban’ should now be dropped from the title and that it be referred to as the ’Borough Tree Planting Strategy’ as rural sites would be integrated.

The Leader referred to areas where tree planting had taken place which would deter traveller incursion and was pleased that the emerging local plan would protect the carbon capture areas.

The Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning welcomed this and welcomed the integration of rural areas into the strategy. 

Resolved:    (i)       That Phase 6 of the Urban Tree Planting Strategy be

approved for consultation and implementation in winter 2024/25 (subject to consultation responses), and authorise the Service Director – Neighbourhood Delivery to seek and accept quotations for the work in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Environment.

(ii)             That the Service Director – Neighbourhood Delivery be authorised to bid for and accept external grant funding and secure community donations (if offered)  to contribute to the cost of the Urban Tree Planting Strategy and other related projects.

(iii)           That the expansion of the Urban Tree Planting Strategy to include rural tree planting schemes, be approved.

(iv)           That ward members in the rural areas of the Borough be invited to propose potential sites for tree planting on Borough Council land in their wards.

(v)             That up to two rural sites be included in this phase of planting, subject to consultation with the relevant community and agreement with the Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Environment.

(vi)           That designation of appropriate tree planting sites as Carbon Capture  Areas in the emerging Local Plan, be authorised.

Watch the debate here