Issue - meetings

Tree Policy

Meeting: 18/03/2024 - Cabinet (Item 118)

118 Tree Policy (Updated) 2024 - 2029 pdf icon PDF 102 KB

(Regulatory Services – Cllr K Williamson) To agree to adopt the proposed updated overarching tree policy for a 5-year period (C-048-2023-24).

Additional documents:

Decision:

That the Cabinet adopted the proposed updated overarching tree policy for a 5-year period.

Minutes:

The Regulatory Services Portfolio Holder, Councillor K Williamson, outlined the updated Tree Policy for the next five years, which defined the approach to the management of trees owned by the District Council and the publicly owned highway trees under the stewardship of Essex County Council. Place Scrutiny Committee had also reviewed this policy on 27 February 2024.

 

Councillor J Philip was pleased by the significant number of new trees that had been planted, which was good for the environment, and the importance of not allowing green belt land to be built on.

 

Councillor D Wixley queried why EFDC would not undertake works on trees that interfered with telephone lines or television or satellite reception. What would happen and would the Council take action if, for example, a street tree with a TPO on it interfered with a telephone line? The Regulatory Services Director, M Thompson, replied that in such instances, this was usually dealt with on a case-by-case basis, but she would clarify this after the meeting with Councillor Wixley.

 

The report set out the options considered, if any, and the reasons for the recommendation and the decision.

 

            Decision:

 

That the Cabinet adopted the proposed updated overarching tree policy for a 5-year period.