Agenda item

This report seeks approval for public consultation on the Draft Brent Tree Strategy document.

Cabinet RESOLVED

(1)        To approve consultation on the Draft Brent Tree Strategy document as set out in Appendix A of the report.

(2)        To delegate consideration of the consultation responses, any necessary changes and the decision to adopt the final Brent Tree Strategy to the Cabinet Member for Public Realm and Enforcement.

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Tuesday 27 May 25

Councillor Krupa Sheth (as Cabinet Member for Public Realm & Enforcement) introduced a report from the Corporate Director Neighbourhoods and Regeneration detailing the draft Brent Tree Strategy for public consultation.

In introducing the report, Councillor Krupa Sheth began by advising that the Draft Tree Strategy had been produced with the aim of outlining how the Council intended to continue managing and enhancing the tree and environmental stock across the borough, recognising their importance not only in terms of aesthetic value but also the numerous environmental, health, and social benefits provided through their integration into the boroughs urban environment.  Members were advised that the Strategy had sought to build on the Tree Management Policy as well as align with other environmental strategies as a means of ensuring the Council continued to recognise the important role green space played as it sought to balance this against other legal and financial responsibilities.  In terms of the Strategy itself, members noted that this included ambitions on increasing canopy cover, improving tree equity and targeting those areas of highest priority need with the next stage in its development involving the need to consult with residents and local stakeholders in order to co-produce a constructive and financially responsible action plan (in advance of its final adoption) that would support the wider efforts being made to deliver a greener future for Brent.

In welcoming development of the Strategy, members were keen to recognise its wider environmental impact in terms of supporting Brent’s commitments to biodiversity, sustainable development and improving the environmental wellbeing of the borough, including action being taken to tackle and develop more resilience in terms of climate change, in a way that was designed to maximise the impact that urban trees were known to have on the environment and the wellbeing of local communities and residents in Brent.  Members were also supportive of the way in which the Strategy had been drafted to reflect national. regional and local policy and include a resource management strategy to support long term development and maintenance of the tree canopy as well as the health and condition of existing trees, recognising the targets also set by the GLA in this respect and need for ongoing lobbying to ensure that funding was made available to deliver the necessary proactive management and change.  Support was also expressed for the approach outlined within the strategy regarding the replacement of trees where they had needed to be removed which would require the provision of adequate compensation or replacement cover.

In thanking all those involved in development of the strategy for their efforts and recognising the long term nature of the efforts that would be required to deliver the increase in tree canopy cover Cabinet, in welcoming the focussed provided through the Strategy, RESOLVED:

(1)        To approve consultation on the Draft Brent Tree Strategy document as set out in Appendix A of the report.

(2)        To delegate consideration of the consultation responses, any necessary changes and the decision to adopt the final Brent Tree Strategy to the Cabinet Member for Public Realm and Enforcement.