In response to the request from the committee to seek the position of the Council in relation to “Ash Die Back” ( Minute 8 of the meeting held on 23 June 2023 ), a presentation will be delivered by the Engineering Manager, Economy and Environment.

A presentation was provided by the Engineering Manager (EM), the following points were highlighted.

·       The first reported case of Ash Die Back in the County was in 2014 and cases are expanding.

·       The exact number, location and condition is unknown.

·       There is potentially 100,000 Ash Trees in or adjacent to the public highway which could impact on the network and 95% of those are in the Councils ownership.

·       The areas within the Public Realm that are affected by Ash Die Back were covered such as;  trees in open spaces, verges in regards to public highways, trees on Council owned land and trees in private ownership adjacent to the public realm, highway or public rights of way. .

·       The risks of Ash Die Back were explored such as, Falling Limbs causing a risk to life, property and infrastructure.

·       The 4 categories which define the level of disease were explained.

·       The Conservation team are leading on a County Tree Strategy, which should be approved and implemented by March 2024.

·       An Ash Die Back action plan is being worked on which will set out the Council’s objectives moving forward.

·       Full consideration will be needed for those trees effected by Ash Die Back which are covered by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO).

·       The Conservation team are reporting on and assessments being undertaken of ash trees through planning applications received.

·       The Council are working with and sharing ideas and knowledge with other groups such as the Local Authority Ash Dieback Working Group, Defra, and neighbouring authorities.

·       As set out in the Highways Maintenance Plan, all roads are inspected annually as a minimum, monthly inspections for the A and B roads.

·        Specific surveys to be undertaken by qualified arboricultural consultant.

·       Next steps include.

o   Recovery Plan – Removing the affected trees, re-planting of new trees in the right places with regards to highways and the encouragement of replanting on private landownership.

o   Monitoring information sharing,

o   Keeping the Corporate Risk Register updated.

o   Continuous updates to the communications plan so the public are informed of what the Council are doing and why.

In response to questions, the Engineering Manager commented on;

1.     The EM confirmed the funding for the recovery plan had been secured within the Capital programme.

2.     Currently within the public realm contract there is a small team which is complemented by local contractors. A tender process is currently underway to incorporate a framework contract so other contractors could come on board who could then be called upon as and when needed. Once that framework is in place, the Council could potentially offer that service out to support members of the public who have ash trees within their private ownership.

3.     The Director of Resources and Assurance confirmed the additional budget approval for the next 4 years 2024/25 through to 2026/27 of £367k per annum was agreed by Council in February 2023 as part of the capital programme.

The Chairperson thanked the Engineering Manager for his comprehensive presentation and it was agreed Ash Die Back would be reviewed again if necessary once the committee had been updated on the Corporate Risk Registers.