Agenda item

a)       To receive and consider the report of the Operations & Estates Officer relating to a tree donated by Extinction Rebellion and the logistics/policy for planting.

b)      To receive and consider correspondence from Tim Stevenson, Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire regarding increasing tree cover in Oxfordshire.

c)       To receive and consider the report of the Operations & Estates Officer relating to a request for tree planting for Climate Action in Witney.

d)      To receive documentation from the Earthwatch Institute concerning ‘Tiny Forests’ and consider the potential of such a scheme in Witney.

This item was moved up the agenda with the express permission of the Chair, so that the public present could listen to the debate.

Member discussed the offer of the tree from Extinction Rebellion and agreed to its planting at the QE2 Field, Burwell.  One member of Extinction Rebellion could attend and in line with the Council’s policy, no plaque would be erected.

Members had been interested to hear from both the Wychwood Project and Olivia Thornton who had requested to plant trees on Town Council property on behalf of Climate Action.  It was agreed that the Climate and Biodiversity Sub Committee would be best placed to consider the proposal more and how the Council Could work with the Wychwood Project.  They would be invited to attend the next meeting.

The Committee had been extremely interested in the Tiny Forest Programme by Earthwatch and agreed to progress it via a member and the Operations and Estates Officer working with them to identify suitable land as a starting point which could be reported back to Full Council.

RESOLVED:

a) i)        that the Council accepts the tree from Extinction Rebellion and plants it on the Burwell QE2 Field;

    ii)        that 1 member of Extinction Rebellion is welcome to attend the planting of the tree;

   iii)        that the Council will replace/maintain the tree in line with the Council’s tree policy;

    iv)       that a plaque is not provided/permitted in line with the Council’s tree policy;

     v)       that a book is purchased to record donated trees.

b)  that the completion of the survey on increasing tree cover in Oxfordshire from the Lord

     Lieutanant of Oxfordshire be delegated to Cllr Enright and the Operations and Estates

     Officer;

c)   that the Climate and Biodiversity Sub Committee has an agenda item on trees and

      considers how the Town Council can best work with groups and individuals on increasing

      tree cover in the town, inviting those attending the meeting to participate.

d)   that the Town Council supports the Tiny Forest project in principal and that the project be

      delegated to the Operations and Estates Officer and Cllr Gwatkin to progress this with

      Earthwatch prior to the Full Council meeting on 10^th February.