Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

Report of the Director of Streetscene and Regulatory Services

To consider an e-petition headed “Save this beautiful Ash Tree from being felled by Coventry City Council” bearing 151 signatures. The Petition Organiser has been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item.

The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Streetscene and Regulatory Services which responded to a petition headed “Save this beautiful ash tree from being felled by Coventry City Council”.

Works to fell and make safe an ash tree in Howes Lane, Finham, were objected to by a local resident. Subsequently, a petition was submitted to the Council bearing 151 signatures to save the tree from being felled.

In order not to delay matters, the petition was discussed with the Cabinet Member and a determination letter explaining the proposed course of action was sent to the petition organiser on 26 September 2023. However, the petition organiser requested that the matter be dealt with by way of a report to be considered at a meeting of the Cabinet Member.

The Health and Safety at Work (HSW) etc Act 1074 states that Coventry City Council has a duty to all that is reasonably practicable to ensure that people are not exposed to risk to their health and safety.

Around half of all fatalities due to falling trees or branches occur in public spaces, such as a park or beside roads, so section 3 HSW Act may be applicable. Whilst the Health and Safety Executive may regard the average risk as extremely low, the law requires that where reasonably practicable measures are available, in individual cases, they should be taken.

The ash tree was initially visually assessed in November 2022 by the urban forestry officer in response to concerns from the owners of the neighbouring property whose garden is dominated by the tree. Work had been undertaken by the Council and the owners of the neighbouring property, under their common law rights of abatement, to reduce its size and to try and reduce the risk of catastrophic failure, which could affect their property or person.

The assessment concluded that it was now time for the tree to be removed and the area be made completely safe. The tree was and currently is, displaying fungal fruiting bodies of the wood decay pathogen, inonotus hispidus. This disease was significant on ash trees due to the way in which it affected the structure of the wood tissue. It made the wood brittle and easy to snap. This would leave the tree vulnerable to major failure in moderate weather condition or periods of drought.

Works were ordered to fell the tree, but to leave a standing trunk at approximately 4m which will form valuable habitat for invertebrates whilst making it safe for those that pass or live adjacent to it. Ordinarily, when a tree was due to be felled, nearby residents would be notified of the proposed works and the resulting impact on the landscape. However, due to the unprecedented volume of work being raised, this was overlooked. When the contractor arrived to undertake the work, a local resident complained that no one knew of the works and quite rightly, pointed out that it was nesting season. The work was stopped. It was at this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

There are no outstanding issues

There were no outstanding issues.

To consider any other items of business which the Cabinet Member decides to take as a matter of urgency because of the special circumstances involved.

There were no other items of public business.