COTSWOLD DISTRICT COUNCIL

TREES OWNED BY THE COUNCIL– MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES

PRINCIPLE 1. TREE MANAGEMENT

Cotswold District Council will follow nationally recognised best practice in the management of its tree stock. [For example British Standards, particularly BS 3998, BS 4428 & BS 5837; Tree Preservation Orders – a guide to the law and good practice (DCLG 2006) ; Hedge height and light loss (DCLG 2004) etc. Arboricultural & Forestry Advisory Guides (AFAG), Arboricultural Association guidance, European Tree Pruning Guide.]

PRINCIPLE 2. TREE FELLING AND PRUNING WORK

Cotswold District Council will monitor and take action to control significant hazards and legal nuisances from trees in its ownership with appropriate regard to both amenity value and foreseeable risks. In addition to risk management works, the Council will normally only undertake works that benefit the health and amenity of its trees. (The Council will not normally carry out work to control minor inconveniences like shade, views, TV reception, overhang and leaf/blossom/fruit fall.)

PRINCIPLE 3. COUNCIL TREE PLANTING

Cotswold District Council will strive to increase the quality and quantity of its tree stock by planting in suitable locations with appropriate species to enhance the enjoyment of open spaces, promote local distinctiveness and conserve the environment. In all new plantings the Council will seek to establish the “right tree in the right place”. Where trees are felled, every effort should be made to re-plant as close as appropriate to the felled trees, provided that

  • there are no constraints to planting (e.g. archaeology, underground services)
  • planting is appropriate in landscape and townscape terms
  • planting is appropriate in arboricultural terms (e.g. that the initial felling was not to prevent tree over-crowding)
  • there is sufficient budget available, once health and safety works have been completed district-wide
  • there is no substantial local objection to re-planting

PRINCIPLE 4. TREE WORKS PRIORITISATION

In order to ensure that the tree management budget is spent in a focused and targeted manner, a prioritisation scheme should be followed.

Priority 1 - Maintenance works to trees based on a system of quantified risk assessment. Each tree to be individually risk assessed and appropriate works prioritised within set timeframes according to the degree of risk.

Priority 2 – Re-planting of trees on sites where significant trees have been felled, provided that the requirements of policy 3 are met.

Priority 3 – Implementation of individual site tree management strategies (including tree planting -either as replacement plantings or as new plantings; work to ensure mixed age sustainable tree populations on sites; works to increase biodiversity value, e.g. hedge-laying etc.)

PRINCIPLE 5. COMMUNICATIONS

In order to ensure that local communities are aware of any substantial tree works the following communications strategy will be followed -

If substantial tree works are planned (for example felling of mature trees) the following individuals and organisations will be informed –

  • Ward members
  • Parish and town councils
  • Neighbouring properties (by letter or site notice) (where appropriate)
  • Site users (by site notice) (where appropriate)
  • Press (where appropriate)
  • In some instances additional site notices will also be used.

In emergency situations, where trees are imminently dangerous and works have to be carried out at very short notice this level of communication may not be possible.

(The provision of information concerning minor works will be more limited.)

Town and parish councils and ward members will be consulted over individual site tree management strategies.

The original Tree Policies were approved by Cabinet on 19th March 2009 and later amended as Management Principles in October 2012, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning.

For further information: Heritage and Design Service, Cotswold District Council. (01285) 623000