Agenda item

The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the progress of the Biodiversity Opportunities Audit (BOA), the Alternative Grassland Management (AGM) initiative adopted in March 2022, and the Tree Strategy adopted in January 2022 and to make recommendations for future years.

            The purpose of this report was to provide an update on the progress of the Biodiversity Opportunities Audit (BOA), the Alternative Grassland Management (AGM) initiative adopted in March 2022, and the Tree Strategy adopted in January 2022 and to make recommendations for future years. The report was presented by the Principal Tree and Landscape Officer.

            The report gave an overview on the progress over the past twelve months. The report recommended several minor changes on the grass cutting programme. Many of the actions on the Tree Strategy had been delivered. Some actions had to be put on hold due to staff absence and other time sensitive work that had to be carried out.

            A Member asked what was being done to encourage other agencies such as Thrive, Watford Community Housing etc.  The Lead Member advised they would be happy to assist Officers with this work. The Principal Tree and Landscape Officer responded that outreach work could be done to speak with Parish Councils and churches etc.

            A Member asked about the annual safety inspection on trees starting in December 2021 and wondered how much had been completed and asked for details on the system for reporting TRDC trees outside of office hours. With regard to protected trees, there were concerns that they had not been reviewed for a while and therefore no new trees had been identified that should also be included.

            In response to the questions on tree safety, the Principal Tree and Landscape Officer said all urgent work had been done.  Officers were now working on the higher priority work.  For Out of Hours enquiries, this had been agreed but the process needed to be updated.  Members of the public would be directed to the Police or Highways in the first instance for reporting on a tree out of hours. On the Tree Protection Order review, this was a large piece of work and would take a lot of time to deliver. It was hoped this would be started this year; but it could take several years to complete due to having over 100 TPO’s.

            A Member asked about grass cutting in the Eastbury Recreation ground.    This was an open area that was widely used for informal sports and picnics etc. In one place there was an amenity cut and some edge management which was supposed to be a wild area, then there was a meadow cut which took up 15% of the area which should all be amenity cut. The Member asked for clarification on this. The Principal Tree and Landscape officer clarified that edge management was woodland edge and cut once a year but cuttings were not removed. On the other side was a meadow cut which was where the grass was cut, collected and taken off site twice a year. The main part of the site was amenity cut which was a regular grass cutting regime.  Officers were happy to talk to residents and Members regarding the types of cut as these could be modified if necessary.

            A Member asked if hay meadow cutting could be split against conservation cutting. The Principal Tree and Landscape Officer advised that the conservation cut had been removed last year and replaced with hay meadow or woodland cut.  The Member asked if interpretation boards could be placed to make members of the public aware.   The Landscapes and Leisure Development Manager responded to say there were existing signs and information was also on the website. Interpretation could be considered on larger sites as and when the Management Plans are updated, however there is a need to be careful not to litter sites with additional signage.

            The Head of Community Services advised that Officers were more than willing to work with members on the strategy. Minor changes could be accommodated, and they urged Members to agree the strategy and work together going forwards.

            Councillor Phil Williams moved the recommendation, seconded by Councillor Chris Lloyd.

            On being put to the Committee the motion was declared CARRIED by the Chair the voting being by general assent.

RESOLVED:

Agreed the Biodiversity Opportunities Audit (BOA), the Alternative Grassland Management (AGM), and the Tree Strategy.