Agenda and minutes

To receive any declarations of interests or dispensations

There were no Declarations of Interest or Dispensations reported.

To consider the minutes of the meeting held on 6 July 2021

Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 6 July 2021 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To give consideration to a presentation on the review of the Tree Management Policy and the Tree Planting Strategy.

Consideration was given to a report which outlined the latest version of the Authority’s Tree Management Policy following a review.  The report also presented an overview of a proposed Tree Planting Strategy.

In July 2019 the Authority had declared a climate emergency which reflected the Authority’s commitment to tackling climate change and preserving the natural environment in North Tyneside.  The Authority had worked with a range of stakeholders to develop a Climate Emergency Action Plan in which it had been recognised that trees had an important part to play in meeting the agreed targets through the removal of carbon emissions from the atmosphere.

The Authority’s Tree Management Policy had been refreshed and a new Tree Planting Strategy had been developed. It was explained that the Tree Management Policy had been updated to contain a section on climate change.

Reference was made to the list of planting locations which had been identified in the Tree Planting Strategy and it was explained that this list was subject to change as suitable land for tree planting was identified and existing proposed planting sites assessed.  It was acknowledged that it was important to get the right tree in the right place as the wrong tree in the wrong location caused long term problems for residents and the Authority. 

North Tyneside Council was one of 6 local authorities in the region who had joined forces with environmental groups and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to plant up to 500 hectares (ha) of trees across the north east by 2025 as part of the North East Community Forest.  In the first year it was anticipated that up to 25 ha of tree planting would take place across the area and that funding of £480,000 had been secured from Defra’s Nature for Climate Fund to facilitate the tree planting.  It was explained that it was anticipated that of the 500 ha of tree planting across the area around 4 ha of the planting would take place in North Tyneside, this was due to the limited area available for tree planting in the borough.  The Authority had worked with landowners to identify areas for additional tree planting.  It was also explained that several successful funding bids had been made for further tree planting in the borough including Trees for Cities.  In addition, funding for tree planting had also been secured through Section 106 contributions from developers and the Community Infrastructure Levy in respect of the grant of planning permissions. 

Reference was made to the previous removal of a number of trees across the borough and clarification was sought that the Authority had a record of the trees removed.  It was explained that where the Authority had been involved in the removal of the trees a suitable record had been kept.  It was also explained that if residents in the area wanted the trees to be replaced this could be facilitated but there would need to be a majority of the residents in favour of  ...  view the full minutes text for item E7/19