Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director Net Zero Exeter & City Management.

Agreed:

RECOMMENDED that Council approve the capital budget presented in the report, to allow the Tree Management Team to begin the replanting of new trees in place of diseased Ash trees following the Ash Die Back emergency and for additional Ash tree works in accordance with the recommended actions by the Exeter City Council Service Manager Public and Green Spaces, in order to maintain tree canopy cover.

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

The Executive received the report on the Exeter tree replanting programme following Ash Dieback disease, which was a Europe wide issue, requiring the planting of additional trees and associated works to ensure the tree canopy cover was maintained. The works would contribute to the Council’s goal for Net Zero carbon and protect people and property from any unacceptable risk.

Particular reference was made to the following:-

·         Ward Councillors would be kept fully informed as works progressed;

·         mobile platforms would be necessary in some cases to ensure that the tree surgeons could access the trees safely;

·         whilst a number of single trees had been mapped, further mapping of groups of trees and small areas of woodland would be undertaken;

·         costs were greater than with the management of other trees and funds would be used in the most efficient way as the disease progressed;

·         it was vital to ensure public safety whilst maintaining the canopy cover in Exeter; and

·         whilst there were areas of private land throughout the city with Ash Trees including Devon County Council land, the City Council was also working with the Saving Devon Treescapes Programme with the Wildlife Trust and hoped to attract funding as part of this work.

During the discussion the following points were made:-

·         the Council was committing the necessary funds to ensure the safety of the public;

·         the programme would help maintain the tree canopy cover throughout the city and the general green nature of Exeter; and

·         there would be a two to one ratio of tree replacement throughout the city, a recent example being the planting of 2,000 trees on the Monkerton Ridge.

RECOMMENDED that Council approve the capital budget presented in the report, to allow the Tree Management Team to begin the replanting of new trees in place of diseased Ash trees following the Ash Die Back emergency and for additional Ash tree works in accordance with the recommended actions by the Exeter City Council Service Manager Public and Green Spaces, in order to maintain tree canopy cover.