Issue - items at meetings - Seven Dials Elm Tree – Consideration of Design Alternatives

Report of the Executive Director Environment, Development & Housing (copy attached).

1.      That the Transport Committee notes the options for incorporating the Elm tree into the Seven Dials scheme and the benefits and disbenefits associated with each option.

2.         That the Transport Committee grants permission for officers to proceed with the preferred option for incorporating the Elm Tree, as outlined on the plan at Appendix 5.

75.1         The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director of Environment, Development & Housing that outlined the options for incorporating the Vernon Terrace Elm Tree into the Seven Dials improvement scheme and recommended a preferred option.

75.2         Councillor Mitchell thanked officers for finding a solution however; she believed the current option should have been presented to the Committee originally. Councillor Mitchell also stated that care should be taken to preserve the tree roots during the improvement work.

75.3         Councillor Kennedy welcomed the opportunity to re-visit the originally decision and sought assurance that an arboriculturist would be present during improvement work.

75.4         Councillor Norman re-iterated the statements made by Councillors Mitchell and Robins adding that the work must be carried out correctly and carefully.

75.5         Councillor Robins asked whether the tests to ascertain potential internal decay of the tree had been conducted and whether there would be a continuing re-inspection of the safety and condition of the tree.

75.6         Councillor Cox noted that paragraph 5.2 of the report provided information on the £300,000 grant from the Department for Transport Cycle Safety Programme for the improvement works. He request confirmation that the £20,000 required to preserve the tree would not be diverted from the grant.

75.7         Councillor Janio welcomed the opportunity to reconsider the scheme and stated that he hoped this would encourage a more common-sense approach to policy-making from the administration.

75.8         The Chair replied to Councillor Janio that the significant majority of schemes approved by the Transport Committee had received cross-party support.

75.9         Councillor West stated that he believed the Committee were correct to respond to the concerns raised about the removal of the tree by the local community however, his concerns that the retention of the tree would compromise increased accessibility remained.

75.10    In response to the issues raised, the Principal Transport Planner stated that the decay test on the tree had been completed and had found that the tree was healthy. He added that there was likely to be continuing uplift from the roots of the tree and there would be continual assessment and remedial work where necessary. The Principal Transport Planner clarified that the £20,000 required for work required to the retain the tree was a minor element of the overall budget and would be taken from a designated contingency fund. Furthermore, the Principal Transport Planner confirmed that there would be full supervision from an arboriculturist throughout the improvement work.

75.11    RESOLVED-

1.       That the Transport Committee notes the options for incorporating the Elm tree into the Seven Dials scheme and the benefits and disbenefits associated with each option.

2.         That the Transport Committee grants permission for officers to proceed with the preferred option for incorporating the Elm Tree, as outlined on the plan at Appendix 5.