COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, September 21, 2015

QUESTION NO.7

QUESTION: Councillor J. Lahart

To ask the Chief Executive to give details on the progress to date of the new County Tree Management strategy?

REPLY:

South Dublin County Council's Tree Management Policy 'Living With Trees' 2015-2020 was adopted at the County Council meeting in July.  The policy will be formally launched by the Mayor, Cllr. Sarah Holland, at an event to mark national Tree Day on October 8th.  Details of the event will be circulated in due course.  Subsequent to the formal launch, the policy document will be published on a new 'Trees' webpage, currently under development, on the Council's website www.sdcc.ie. 

An Action Plan has been prepared to support and deliver progress against the vision and aims of the Tree Management Policy.  The plan identifies a number of key actions, responsibilities and timescales for delivery over the period 2015-2020.  The current status for actions identified for delivery in 2015 is as follows:

Update   on ‘Living With Trees’ Action Plan for 2015

Action Measurement Status
Evaluate and purchase a tree management system Purchase and use of system Procurement process complete and contract for supply of system has been awarded.
Survey all street trees in County and collate all data on computerised tree management system Number of trees surveyed Survey commenced in March 2015. Over 4,000 trees surveyed to date.
Review existing Tree Preservation Orders in the county Annual review Ongoing as part of the planning process by Public Realm in conjunction with Planning Section
Ensure tree maintenance is completed in a safe manner in accordance with recognised standards and best practice Ongoing development and training of all Council staff involved in tree work   Employment of qualified, trained, competent contractors Training and upskilling of staff ongoing
Use the Council’s planning powers to retain and protect trees on development sites and enforce as necessary Annual review Ongoing as part of the planning process by Public Realm in conjunction with Planning Section
Maximise the recycling of tree related green waste generated by the Council’s own tree management. Annual review   Ongoing
Establish guidelines to prioritise maintenance work on street trees Guidelines in place and used Guidelines set out and in use as per Tree Management Policy ‘Living With Trees’
Develop a 5 year cyclical tree maintenance programme for street trees Publish programme on Council’s website Programme under development
Develop best practice protocol for tree maintenance works and nesting birds Protocol agreed and in practice In preparation
Provide staff training in tree survey and   inspection Training completed Training arranged for completion in September
Develop a ‘Trees’ webpage on the Council’s website www.sdcc.ie Webpage in place and maintained In preparation
Make tree maintenance programme available on website Information available on website Tree Maintenance Programme for 2016 will be presented to Council’s Area Committees in November and subsequently published on Council’s website www.sdcc.ie
Promote Tree week and Tree day in association with the Tree Council of Ireland Tree Day activities organised each year Tree Day 2016 takes place on Thursday, October 8th and activities are being arranged to include the   formal launch of the Council’s Tree Management Policy ‘Living with Trees’