Issue - meetings

AGREED that:

(a)    the draft Tree Strategy be shared with key partners (Sherwood Forest Trust, RSPB, Woodland Trust & Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust) and reviewed before being released for public consultation via the Council’s website; the outcome of the consultation to be reported back to Cabinet for consideration prior to formal adoption of the final draft Strategy and;

(b)   the proposal to fund the increase in budget as set out in paragraph 3.2 of the report for essential tree survey and maintenance work be approved.

The Portfolio Holder for Cleaner, Safer, Greener presented a report which sought the adoption of a Tree Strategy for the District. The proposed Tree Strategy for Newark & Sherwood had been developed by the Environmental Services Team in conjunction with the Planning Development and Planning Policy and Infrastructure teams to establish the Council’s objectives towards trees in the District, and to provide an action plan setting out the pathway to achieve those objectives. The objectives for the strategy and the actions to achieve those were detailed in the report. It was noted that the proposed strategy had been considered and supported by the Policy & Performance Improvement Committee at their meeting held on 28 November 2022.

It was noted that officers were working with Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust to encourage landowners to put forwards areas of land for mass planting and wetland habitat creation. 

AGREED (unanimously) that:

(a)    the draft Tree Strategy be shared with key partners (Sherwood Forest Trust, RSPB, Woodland Trust & Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust) and reviewed before being released for public consultation via the Council’s website; the outcome of the consultation to be reported back to Cabinet for consideration prior to formal adoption of the final draft Strategy; and

(b)   the proposal to fund the increase in budget as set out in paragraph 3.2 of the report for essential tree survey and maintenance work be approved.

Reasons for Decision

To support the Council’s green ambitions to ‘Enhance and protect the district’s natural environment’, as stated in the community plan.

Options Considered

Not to progress the Strategy at all, or to progress the Strategy but with a greater or lesser allocation of budget. On balance the recommendation is to progress a Strategy, subject to the outcome of consultation, in order to contribute to the Council’s carbon reduction plan, and that the budget proposed is proportionate.