Issue - meetings

This report seeks to set out Council Policy on determining applications for tree planting and the associated fees and charges.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Agree and adopt the policy for determining single memorial tree planting applications to be implemented by the Council.

(2)      Agree and adopt the policy for determining third party tree planting applications/requests.

Resolved (4 for, 2 against, 1 abstaining, and the Chair not voting) to:

(3)      Agree the fees and charges for 2023/24 and 2024/25 as set out at paragraphs 1.12 and 1.23 of the report.

Unanimously resolved to:

(4)      Delegate authority to determine application/requests for tree planting to the Director for Housing, Environment and Regeneration in accordance with the Policy.

(5)      Agree that the Policy at (1) and (2) above be finalised in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Environment Committee.

(6)      Agree that a report be brought back to Committee in 9 months’ time reviewing the effectiveness of the Policy, providing a breakdown of the associated fees and charges, and providing a comparison of the associated fees and charges to those of similar policies adopted by neighbouring authorities.

The Committee received a report seeking to set out Council Policy on determining applications for tree planting and the associated fees and charges.

The Committee considered the following matters:

a)            Fees and Charges. In response to a concern from a Member, the Head of Legal explained that the fees and charges in the report had been set at a rate so as to cover the cost to the Council in administering the applications received and to cover the cost of any requested tree planting. He explained that there was no scope for income or profit within the fees and charges, and that to lower them would be of detriment to the budget.

b)            Budget Considerations. In response to a comment from a Member, the Head of Legal explained that to waive any fee would be to effectually add an item to the Committee’s budget, and would require a funding option to be identified by the Committee in order to facilitate the waiving.

c)            Proposed Tree Planting Sites within the Tree Management Plan. The Chair explained that schemes carried out by organisations, such as the Tree Advisory Board, would not be subject to the fees and charges so long as the works are carried out within sites identified in the Council’s Tree Management Plan.

Councillor Julie Morris proposed that an additional recommendation be added as follows:

(6)       Agree that a report be brought back to Committee in 9 months’ time reviewing the effectiveness of the Policy, providing a breakdown of the associated fees and charges, and providing a comparison of the associated fees and charges to those of similar policies adopted by neighbouring authorities.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor Steven McCormick.

The Committee unanimously voted in favour of the proposal.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Agree and adopt the policy for determining single memorial tree planting applications to be implemented by the Council.

(2)      Agree and adopt the policy for determining third party tree planting applications/requests.

Resolved (4 for, 2 against, 1 abstaining, and the Chair not voting) to:

(3)      Agree the fees and charges for 2023/24 and 2024/25 as set out at paragraphs 1.12 and 1.23 of the report.

Unanimously resolved to:

(4)      Delegate authority to determine application/requests for tree planting to the Director for Housing, Environment and Regeneration in accordance with the Policy.

(5)      Agree that the Policy at (1) and (2) above be finalised in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Environment Committee.

(6)      Agree that a report be brought back to Committee in 9 months’ time reviewing the effectiveness of the Policy, providing a breakdown of the associated fees and charges, and providing a comparison of the associated fees and charges to those of similar policies adopted by neighbouring authorities.