Agenda item - Items referred from Council

Item referred from the last meeting of Full Council held on 22 October 2015 (copy attached).

(a)          Petitions

(i)            Elm Trees, New Church Road

(a)          Petitions

(i)        Elm Trees, New Church Road- Councillor Cobb

42.1      The Committee considered a petition referred from the Full Council meeting on 22 October 2015 and signed by 100 people requesting the council ensure that Brighton College fund the replacement of elm trees that had been felled on its New Church Road property.

42.2      The Chair provided the following response:

“It is very sad that we have lost 14 elm trees in the Westbourne area and this highlights how devastating the effects of Dutch Elm Disease can be. The outbreak was the consequence of healthy trees on the grounds of St Christopher’s school being cut back for maintenance some two years ago. Unfortunately the off cuts were kept on the school grounds rather than removed and these became a breeding ground for the beetle that causes spreads of Dutch Elm Disease.

When street trees became infected in the area our officers carried out an investigation and quickly found the source of the outbreak. Unfortunately by this stage 10 of our street trees were infected and had to be cut down to contain the outbreak.

The representatives from the school were very upset by the fact that their premises were the source of the outbreak and have cooperated fully with the council to contain the disease. We have cleared and destroyed all the wood that has been infected and are keeping a close eye on the area.

It is our aspiration to see the trees replaced, and whilst budget reductions mean this isn’t currently possible, we will continue to explore ways of how funding the replacement trees can be achieved”

42.3      RESOLVED- That the petition be noted.