Issue - meetings

The 2050 Urban Forest Strategy for BCP provides a vision, key guiding principles, and priorities for action so that residents, visitors and businesses in our conurbation get the most from trees both now an in the future.

Few coastal conurbations can boast a treescape as diverse, extensive, and spectacular as BCP’s. In light of the quality of this resource, the production of an up-to-date strategy focused on trees and woodlands was one of the key action points identified in the adopted Green Infrastructure Strategy.

The strategy replaces legacy documents previously used in each of the individual former authorities and offers an up-to-date road map that will be part of the draft Local Plan. This will sit alongside the Green Infrastructure Strategy, Climate Action plan, Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan and forthcoming Urban Greening design guide and Dorset Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

RESOLVED that the Urban Forest Strategy, its vision, key guiding principles, and priorities for action are approved by BCP Cabinet.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Climate Response, Environment and Energy

Reasons

Supports the Corporate Strategy in sustaining and adding to our tree provision, improving our environment and places for nature.

Supports people and communities in making our places greener, more resilient in the face of global climate breakdown.

Supports the aims and principles of the Green Infrastructure Strategy.

Supports service improvement in managing our tree provision.

Increasing tree canopy supports the forthcoming Local Nature Recovery Strategy and meets the council’s statutory duty to biodiversity under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (NERC).

The Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'H' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that the 2050 Urban Forest Strategy for BCP provides a vision, key guiding principles, and priorities for action so that residents, visitors and businesses in our conurbation get the most from trees both now an in the future.

In relation to this Cabinet was informed that few coastal conurbations can boast a treescape as diverse, extensive, and spectacular as BCP’s, and that in light of the quality of this resource, the production of an up-to-date strategy focused on trees and woodlands was one of the key action points identified in the adopted Green Infrastructure Strategy.

Further to this Cabinet was advised that the strategy replaced legacy documents previously used in each of the individual former authorities and offers an up-to-date road map that will be part of the draft Local Plan, and that this will sit alongside the Green Infrastructure Strategy, Climate Action plan, Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan and forthcoming Urban Greening design guide and Dorset Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

Cabinet was advised that the report was due to be scrutinised by the Environment and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee, but that due to the pre-election period the meeting had been cancelled, and that in lieu of this a member briefing had facilitated by the Chair of the Environment and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee and open to all members to attend.

Further to this Cabinet was advised that the Chair of the Environment and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee was unfortunately unable to attend the Cabinet meeting but that he had circulated comments which had been raised at the briefing on the report to the Cabinet which were subsequently read out by a member of the Cabinet and raised the following points: -

·       More deprived areas may not have the capacity of longevity to take responsibility for trees long term

·       A point had been raised about integrating fruit trees into the scheme where possible

·       Mention had been made of the potential of working groups coming together and a number of members had expressed an interest.

Cabinet members spoke in support of the report and of the importance of nurturing existing trees as well as planting new ones.

RESOLVED that the Urban Forest Strategy, its vision, key guiding principles, and priorities for action are approved by BCP Cabinet.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Climate Response, Environment and Energy

Reasons

Supports the Corporate Strategy in sustaining and adding to our tree provision, improving our environment and places for nature.

Supports people and communities in making our places greener, more resilient in the face of global climate breakdown.

Supports the aims and principles of the Green Infrastructure Strategy.

Supports service improvement in managing our tree provision.

Increasing tree canopy supports the forthcoming Local Nature Recovery Strategy and meets the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27