The Committee considered a report on proposed work to one Council-maintained Beech tree on land between Harlech Avenue and Hadleigh Rise in Caversham Park Village, which was subject to a Tree Protection Order (TPO).  The tree was shown as T1 on plan TPO 60/14 attached to the report at Appendix 1.

The report explained that on 7 April 2025 an application had been received from the ArboriculturalContracts managerin Streetsceneseeking consentfor a2m crownreduction ofthe Beechtree (applicationreference PL/25/0543).The reasonfor thepruning was citedas being‘to helpalleviate complaintsfrom localresidents andCouncillors forshade, overhangbranches anddebris causingdrain andguttering blockagesand mess’.An indicationof thereduction was set out in Appendix2.

The report stated that complaintshad beenongoing fora numberof yearsrelating tonuisance issuescaused bythe tree.Ward councillors Councillor Mitchell(on behalfof 6,8, 10& 12Hadleigh Rise)and Councillor DPSingh (alsoon behalfof HadleighRise residents)had requestedthat Streetsceneprune thetree toalleviate theresidents’ concerns.The workproposed aimedto alleviatethe nuisanceissues experiencedby adjacentresidents whilstnot beingharmful tothe healthor amenityvalue ofthe tree.It was understoodthat theresidents didnot wishto seethe treeremoved, onlyregularly prunedto addresstheir concerns.

The report stated that a public notice had been displayed giving details of the proposed works and, so far, one response had been received from Councillor DP Singh in support of the works.

The report concluded that the works proposed were necessary in order to appropriately manage the tree to alleviate concerns.The proposed reduction would not have a significant detrimental impacton the health or amenity value of the tree. Subjectto no substantive objections orcomments being received as a result of the public notice, it was recommended thatthe works be approved.

Resolved –

That the proposed tree works to the Beech tree be approved, subject to no substantive objections being received within the consultation period.