Decision details

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Hanson)

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Officer (Environment) which requested agreement to the recommendations outlined by Councillor Hanson to Council on 3^rd February 2016.  Cabinet had deferred consideration of this item at its meeting on 19^th January 2016 to enable Council to debate the item following receipt of a petition in objection to the proposals to fell the trees.

Councillor Hanson proposed, seconded by Councillor Leytham:-

“That the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved.”

Councillors then voted:-

Resolved unanimously:

(1)               That Cabinet recognises the value placed by our citizens on the lime trees in Market Square and therefore would like to retain them.

(2)               That Cabinet however recognises that by their nature lime trees can cause particular management and maintenance problems, particularly in a busy place like Market Square.

(3)               That Cabinet also recognises that properly managing the trees, cleaning the square to an acceptable standard, and ensuring the safety of pedestrians is likely to require additional budget which due to the Council's precarious financial position will need equivalent savings to be found.

(4)             That Cabinet requests that the Chief Officer (Environment):
- Carries out more work over the course of a growing season to further identify the extent of the problem.
- Continues to trial the use of various algicidal and other cleaning products as an addition to pressure washing.
- Investigates how other places deal with this problem.
- Explores how other stakeholders can help the City Council to achieve its aims.
- Reports to Cabinet in autumn 2017 with realistic and affordable recommendations that will then be considered within the overall context of the councils financial position

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

Chief Officer (Environment)

Reasons for making the decision:

The decision is consistent with the Council’s tree policy which allows the Council to “reserve the right to exercise discretion in application of this policy when to do so would be in the best interests of the Council.” The decision enables further work to be undertaken prior to reporting back to Cabinet in 2017.