Agenda item

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

To consider the above petition, bearing 12 signatures, which has been submitted by Councillor R Bailey, a Cheylesmore Ward Councillor, who has been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item along with the petition organiser

The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) concerning a petition, bearing 12 signatures, which had been submitted by Councillor Bailey, a Cheylesmore Ward Councillor, who attended the meeting along with the petition organiser Raymond Barker and they spoke on behalf of the petitioners. The petitioners were requesting that the Council thinned the trees on London Road between Tonbridge Road and Abbey Road and undertook street cleansing at the location, particularly in the autumn.

The report indicated that the trees in question were street trees that stood in the footway outside 260 – 290 London Road. They were Lime species and lined the verges of London Road on both sides of the road, providing valuable amenity to those who lived in the area and to those who travelled along the London Road, entering or exiting the city.

The Cabinet Member was informed that the requested works would have no positive effect on the way in which these trees on this section London Road affected the local residents who lived nearby. If the trees were pruned the regrowth would be quick and the new leaves that regrow within one growing season, would be larger than normal, there-by making the problem worse. This would then lead to more requests for pruning or possibly removal.

The trees did overhang the boundary garden walls of these properties, but this was normal for most street trees present in the city and for many trees in private ownership that stood near to a boundary. There was no duty on any land/tree owner to prevent trees from encroaching. The only duty was to keep them in good health and condition.

The Cabinet Member was informed that if agreement was given to action the request, this would set a precedent that couldn’t be sustained. Adverse pruning to keep all trees within the confines of the highway across the city would be very expensive and the City Council did not have resources available to do this.

The trees were pruned annually to remove the trunk growth that appeared each spring and could encroach onto the footway and road. This work removed all the growth up to 6m high.

The report also referred to the request for street cleansing. Reference was made to the 2016 review that had led to a reduction in cleansing operations across the City including street sweeping, litter collection, litter bin emptying and weed control amongst other activities. This had arisen following the reduction in Government funding. The area of London Road was cleansed all year round on a weekly basis through manual and mechanical cleansing methods. During the autumn when the leaves were falling, there was a specific team who cleared the leaves from footpaths between October and early January.  The frequency of this was dependent on the weather conditions and the rate in which the leaves were falling, but areas were inspected on a fortnightly basis.

Mr Barker detailed his concerns about the trees that were overhanging his garden, including the issue that the trees were still growing. He informed that a wall was cracking because of the tree roots. It was clarified that residents could trim back branches that were overhanging their land. Councillor Bailey highlighted the requirement to clean the roads and footpaths, indicating that there was no evidence to suggest they were cleaned on a weekly basis.    

RESOLVED that:

(1) Having considered the content of the petition, the concerns of the petitioners be noted.

(2) The request for tree works to thin the trees be declined.

(3) It be noted that the requested works will have no positive effect on the way in which these trees, on this section of London Road affect the local residents who live nearby.