This report concerns a draft Tree Strategy 2020, which is proposed for public consultation to take place in March and April 2020.

The Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report which set out a draft Tree Strategy 2020, which would be considered by Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport Committee on 16 March 2020, for endorsement.  The following documents were appended to the report:

Appendix 1 - Equality Impact Assessment Scoping;

Appendix 2 - Draft Tree Strategy 2020.

The report explained that the new Tree Strategy was needed to replace the 2010 version as an important part of the Council’s response to the Climate Emergency.  The Strategy included ambitious aims and objectives for tree planting to 2030 and 2050, and included details of how the existing tree stock would be protected and maintained.  Key stakeholders and environmental groups had been given the opportunity to express their views which had been incorporated into the document, and public consultation would take place during March and April 2020.

The report stated that the Tree Strategy was built around a number of objectives, with actions against each objective.  The Strategy looked at tree management and planting on the Council’s own land, as well as measures dealing with trees on private land.  The objectives of the Strategy are set out below:

1.     RBC Tree Stock – protect, retain, manage and plant trees to ensure an increased canopy cover of healthy trees resistant to pest & diseases and climate change and to reduce air pollution.

2.     Climate adaptation – increase the diversity of the tree stock (family, genus and species) to provide resistance to climate change; plant large canopy species wherever feasible; maintain and keep trees healthy in order that they could achieve their full potential thus ensuring that Reading’s Urban Forest was resilient to the impacts of climate change and provided the maximum role in mitigating its effects.

3.     Tree planting – plant at least 3,000 ‘standard’ trees by 2030 on Council land.

4.     Canopy cover – increase overall canopy cover to 25% by 2050; ensure that all wards had at least 12% canopy cover by 2050; and target priority areas for tree planting based on canopy cover, air pollution, treed corridors, green links, areas of high landscape value and ensure RBC and planting on development sites considers these.

5.     Protection of private trees – the Local Planning Authority would continue to use its powers under the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 to make Tree Preservation Orders and to retain & protect trees on development sites in line with good arboricultural practice.

6.     RBC would engage with partners, public and landowners and work with key partner volunteer groups to raise awareness of the Tree Strategy aims and good arboricultural management practices.

7.     Improve biodiversity across the Borough by: selecting trees that were either native or of wildlife value, particularly in semi-natural areas; by ensuring that tree planting did not compromise or adversely affect other habitats; and by protecting ancient woodlands and ancient/veteran trees.

8.     Identify all areas suitable for street tree and other planting on Council land – initial study to be completed by 2021, with continued  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27