Agenda item

To receive the report of the Operations Manager.

The Committee received and considered the report of the Operation Manager.

Members discussed the removal of  three trees outlined in the report which currently fell outside the Council’s tree policy and were all reluctant to remove healthy trees. However, Members could see the importance of their removal to ensure that future potential costly removal was not incurred and agreed it would be a great shame to see damage to a gravestone if this could be prevented. The planting of tree saplings to replace the trees in a more appropriate area should be considered. The Committee believed it important to communicate the removal effectively so that the church and community understood the decision taken and that further works would only be taken when they were physically required in line with regular maintenance.

The members agreed that the responsibility for preventing wildlife entering the church lied with the church.

Resolved:

1.      That, the report be noted and,

2.      That, removal of the three trees as identified in the report and any additional work identified by the 2023 tree report be carried out and,

3.      That, the Council confirms to Holy Trinity Church that protecting the building from wildlife was their responsibility and,

4.      That, Holy Trinity Church be asked to replace the removed trees with saplings.