COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE-TERENURE AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

MOTION NO. 8

MOTION: Councillor P. Foley

"To ask the Chief Executive that, in future, the Council hold an information evening for residents, prior to Tree works commencing in a given area, to inform them of the listed works and answer any questions the residents may have."

REPORT:

The Council currently presents its Annual Arboriculture Programme to Council members at the Council’s Area Committee meetings in advance of commencing the programme. During 2016, in order to expand public access to information on the Council’s planned programme of tree works, a new 'Tree Management' web page was added to the Council’s website www.sdcc.ie.  The 'Tree Management' web page displays the Tree Maintenance programme for the current year, along with the Tree Planting Programme for the impending/current planting season and occasional notifications/presentations in relation to tree works in specific locations.  For the 2017 Tree Maintenance Programme, as well as publishing the list of estates for tree maintenance in 2017, in advance of commencing works within an estate, following completion of a tree survey to establish the extent and locations of works to be carried out, it is planned to publish the schedule of works detailing the tree maintenance to be carried out within an estate.  This will enable residents to review the planned tree pruning and removals schedule for their estate in advance of works commencing. 

The Council recognises that the planned removal of trees can be a particularly emotive and contentious issue and once a tree becomes a removal candidate, and the works are not emergency works, steps are taken to provide public notice prior to any trees being removed to inform residents.  Public notification of any proposed tree removals currently involves advance card drops to adjacent properties.  Advance card drops also provide notification to adjacent properties of planned pruning works on trees.   Timescales for notice varies according to the type of work, whether it is urgent and the local significance of the tree but wherever practical, notice is issued at least during the week prior to any scheduled tree works. We will not usually give notice where works involve the felling of dead trees or those in imminent danger of failing.

Where the programme of tree maintenance within an estate is likely to significantly impact the particular location or where the proposed tree works extend significantly beyond routine tree pruning or removal of trees that are dead or in decline, the Council will organise an information meeting for residents as required.  The requirement for such a meeting can be determined in association with the local residents association where one exists or in consultation with local elected representatives.  In recent months, a public information evening was held for residents of Rathfarnham Wood where there is a significant programme of tree maintenance to be completed.