Issue - meetings

The Report of the Executive Manager – Communities is attached.

It was RESOLVED that:

a)    the initiatives for tree protection and promotion in Rushcliffe, as detailed at Appendix 1 of the officer’s report be approved.

b)    a three year £50,000 revenue budget, commencing in April 2018, allocated to support the new initiatives, be approved.

c)    annual monitoring reports on activity levels in relation to the new initiatives be presented to Community Development Group. 

Councillor Robinson, on behalf of the Portfolio Holder for Community and Leisure presented the report of the Executive Manager – Communities seeking approval for a range of initiatives regarding tree protection and promotion to be implemented across the Borough. Councillor Robinson noted that the report presented to Cabinet was the outcome of work carried out by the Community Development Group who had been looking at ways of how best the Council could enable greater tree protection and promotion across the Borough.

A list of potential options for tree protection and promotion was attached as an appendix to the officer’s report. Councillor Robinson provided details of some of the proposed schemes including the Tree Warden Scheme, co-ordinated by The Tree Council, which was a national initiative enabling residents to play an active role in conserving and enhancing trees and woods in their area and a ‘free tree scheme’ which was currently in operation in North West Leicestershire, where residents were supplied with trees to plant in their area.

Councillor Robinson advised that if approved by Cabinet, the recommended initiatives in the report would be supported with a three-year revenue budget of £50,000 which would commence in April 2018 and that monitoring reports on the implementation of the initiatives would be presented to Community Development Group on an annual basis for their consideration.

Councillor Moore in seconding the recommendations noted that he was in favour of tree conservation protection and promotion becoming a material planning consideration when determining planning applications, especially for large developments. Councillor Upton welcomed the report and noted that the positive steps that the Council was taking in regard to tree protection and promotion would be received with enthusiasm by local nature conservation organisations.

It was RESOLVED that:

a)    the initiatives for tree protection and promotion in Rushcliffe, as detailed at Appendix 1 of the officer’s report be approved.

b)    a three year £50,000 revenue budget, commencing in April 2018, allocated to support the new initiatives, be approved.

c)     annual monitoring reports on activity levels in relation to the new initiatives be presented to Community Development Group. 

REASON FOR DECISIONS

To support and develop initiatives for tree promotion and protection in the Borough.