Issue - meetings

This report introduces the Council Tree Management Plan and seeks support for carrying out a targeted stakeholder consultation.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Agree to carry out a targeted stakeholder consultation of the Tree Management Plan set out in Appendix 1 of the report.

The Committee received a report introducing the Council Tree Management Plan and seeking support for carrying out a targeted stakeholder consultation.

The following matters were considered by the Committee:

a)            Amendment to list of consulted groups: The Committee considered that the following groups be added to the list of those to be consulted:

·                     Friends of Epsom & Ewell Parks

·                     Trustees of the Woodcote Millennium Green Trust

·                     Residents Associations and Political Parties

This was noted by the Environment and Sustainability Officer.

b)           Tree Pruning: In response to a question from a Member,the Director Environment, Housing and Regeneration confirmed many trees in the Borough are protected by tree preservation orders or are located in conservation areas. She also confirmed she understood people have a legal right to prune unprotected trees that overhang their land. The Committee considered that the wording in the Tree Management Plan (Appendix to the report) be amended as necessary prior to consultation in order to provide clarity on legal rights in relation to pruning protected trees overhanging private land.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Agree to carry out a targeted stakeholder consultation of the Tree Management Plan set out in Appendix 1 of the report.