Issue - meetings

Presentation by Executive Director, Place, Economy & Environment.

The Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee to provide Scrutiny input into the Council’s draft Tree Policy for West Northamptonshire.

The Executive Director of Place, Economy and Environment presented a report for the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee to provide Scrutiny input into the Council’s draft Tree Policy for West Northamptonshire.

The Committee made comments, asked questions, and heard:

·       The Committee felt that there were too many trees in some areas; maintenance works should be prioritised.

·       Cabinet would decide how the policy was funded.

·       There should be flexibility since even healthy trees could become dangerous.

·       Officers would look to rationalise existing policies across districts.

·       Appropriate trees should be planted in the right locations.

·       A policy was being looked into to bring existing expertise together.

·       Fruit trees were associated with antisocial issues, e.g., apples being used as projectiles.

·       Unidentified pieces of land were an issue.

·       Early Member input would be important It was suggested that a Member Task & Finish Group is set up.

Resolved: That;

1)    A Task and Finish Group of this Committee is set up to investigate Tree Policy and Strategy. The Task and Finish Group would be Chaired by Councillor Pinder Chauhan and Councillors Duffy and J Gilford would join the Task and Finish Group membership

2)    The Chair of the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee would contact all non-Executives inviting those with an interest and expertise in the topic to join the Task and Finish Group.  Membership of the Task and Finish Group would be limited to seven non-Executives.