Agenda item

Richard Morrish from Richard Morrish Associates will be attending the meeting.

The Chairman explained that he had added this item onto the Agenda following discussions with Members of the Green Infrastructure Co-ordination Group and had invited Rick Morrish to the meeting to provide detail on how a Tree Strategy for West Norfolk could be put in place.

The Chairman welcomed Richard Morrish to the Meeting.  Richard Morrish explained that he was a Landscape Architect, Member of the Civic Society and sat on the Green Infrastructure Co-ordination Group.

Richard Morrish circulated his review of the existing Borough Council Policies relating to Green Infrastructure and Trees and how he thought they could be improved.  He felt that a clear strategy for trees was the missing link.  He explained that there was a tree crisis with some species being lost to diseases and provided detail of other environmental factors which had an impact on trees.  He also acknowledged that resources and funding for Local Government were stretched already.

Councillor Mrs Spikings commented that she did not feel that this was the right way to have this dialogue and perhaps this matter, in its initial stages, should be discussed by the Local Plan Task Group, the relevant Portfolio Holder and officers.  The Site Allocations and Development Management Policies had been found Sound by the Inspector.

Richard Morrish felt that the Council’s vision needed to be clearer in relation to Green Infrastructure.  He commented that a simple goal or pledge should be introduced, such as, increasing the amount of trees in the Borough by 10% by 2026.  Richard Morrish commented that he would be available to assist the Council, if required, to develop a Tree Strategy and would do so on a voluntary basis, as he felt that this was a very important issue in the Borough.

The Chairman thanked Richard Morrish for attending the meeting and invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

In response to a question, Richard Morrish explained that surveys would have to be undertaken to ascertain how many trees there were in the Borough so that the 10% increase could be calculated.  The Executive Director explained that the Borough Council had an Arboriculturalist Officer who inspected trees on a regular basis and maintained a tree register.

Reference was made to the historic nature of King’s Lynn and the mediaeval drains and tunnels which ran under the town centre.  Richard Morrish acknowledged that some Conservation Areas may not be suitable and planting would need to be targeted.

Comments were made relating to areas around the Hardwick Industrial Estate and how tree planting was not appropriate in some areas because of highways safety and visibility.

Councillor Mrs Spikings explained that she was the Chairman of the Planning Committee and felt that it was unfair to say that the Council did not have enough regard to trees.  She explained that the Planning Committee took a serious view on applications which would involve tree felling and had refused some applications on this basis when they felt that it was important for trees to be retained.  They also added conditions on Planning Permissions where they felt that the retention of trees or additional tree planting was important.  She also stated that the Borough Council did have an Arboriculturalist Officer.

Councillor Mrs Spikings asked who would be paying for all the additional trees which Richard Morrish had suggested were required.  She also referred to the long term and the more frequent diseases which were affecting trees.  Richard Morrish acknowledged that the Policy needed to be realistic with regards to finances available.  Councillor Mrs Spikings reminded those present that everyone had had the opportunity to comment on the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies during the public consultation exercises and she asked if Richard Morrish had made representations.

In response to a question regarding Hunstanton, the Executive Director explained that there had been issues with contamination in one of the Car Parks in Hunstanton, which meant that trees had not grown.  However there were other areas in Hunstanton such as Oasis Way and Southend Road, where long budded Poplars had been planted.  The Executive Director stated that the Council did look at landscaping and tree planting but there was only so much resource available.

The Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Environment addressed the Panel.  He appreciated that Richard Morrish had attended the meeting and commented that in an ideal world the Council would plant as many trees as possible, however resources were limited and would decrease further in the future.  Consideration needed to be given to the additional liability of maintenance on the Borough.  He explained that the Inspector had found the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies sound and Green Infrastructure provision was included in this.  He also reiterated comments that the Planning Committee carefully considered implications for trees and added conditions to permissions or sought developer contributions where appropriate.

The Chairman thanked Councillor Long for summarising the Council’s position and felt that further discussions were required to pull together a Tree Strategy.  He hoped that all information the Borough held on trees could be pulled together and made available on the website.  Councillor Spikings commented that a lot of information was already available on the website.  The Chairman acknowledged that information was already available on the website, but hoped that, in the future this could possibly be developed further to incorporate things such as detail on Tree Preservation Orders, advice for residents and developers, planting programmes and links to articles which could be of interest.