COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, April 24, 2018
MOTION NO. 9
MOTION: Councillor G. O'Connell
"Given that one of the most contentious services, certainly as far as this Councillor is concerned, has been the subject of Trees in this LAC, that a discussion now take place in the chamber on how best members of the public, in particular residents in a given area, can have their say in relation trees in their area and that recommendations be referred to the SPC to inform the terms of reference of the proposed review of “Living with Trees”.
REPORT:
An interim internal review of the Council's Tree Management Policy 2015-2020 'Living With Trees' has been initiated and a report presented to the Environment Public Realm & Climate Change SPC Meeting held on 6th February 2018.
The Council's Tree Management Policy was adopted at a meeting of the Council on July 13, 2015. The policy was developed by the Council’s Public Realm section having regard to best practice within the wider local authority and arboricultural sectors on both national and international levels. The process involved the support and active input of a dedicated working group comprising members of the Environment, Water & Climate Change Strategic Policy Committee. A draft policy document was published to coincide with a period of public consultation enabling the public to submit comments and observations which were considered by the working group and addressed in the adopted policy.
The Tree Management Policy provides a framework to inform and support decisions made by the Council on the management and development of a sustainable tree population in the County. The Policy acts as a point of reference for the public, Councillors, Council staff and professionally interested people to enable informed discussion and to establish a clearer, consistent and structured approach to the issues affecting trees.
This is a 5-Year management policy which is now into its third year and is scheduled for an interim review in accordance with the relevant specific action listed in the Action Plan which accompanies and supports the Tree Management Policy. It is intended to carry out this interim review during 2018.
The aim of the review is to:
- Review and assess progress to date on the implementation of the Action Plan
- Confirm whether the vision established by the policy is the right focus
- Provide an updated snapshot of our current tree stock and how the Council manages them
- Reassess aspects of the policy on particular issues that continue to generate ambiguity
- Look at emerging issues
- Assess consistency of relevant policies and actions of the Tree Management Policy with the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan
- Make new policy recommendations as necessary from review process
Since the Tree Management Policy was adopted in 2015, there are a number of policy issues which continue to generate ambiguity. These issues are reflected through:
- analysis of tree-related enquiries received via the Council’s Customer Contact System
- emerging policies on climate change action
- increasing housing densities
- ongoing conflict between trees and services
- public concerns arising from extreme weather events
In order to provide further clarity, specific policy issues proposed for review include:
- Trees in conflict with built structures – a clear, corporate protocol is required for resolving issues where tree roots are in conflict with the built environment. Specific locations include public footpaths, private boundary walls and driveways.
- Guidelines and options for implementation of alternative engineering solutions in order to minimise removal of healthy trees
- Review policy on removal of trees in proximity to public lighting columns in order to minimise loss of healthy trees and address public resistance to current practice
- Trees along riverbanks & watercourses – clarify procedure for resolving issues
- Trees and utilities - procedures and protocols for planning, installation and maintenance of utility apparatus in proximity to trees to be formalised with internal Council Departments and external agencies
- Tree root pruning – requirement for policy and guidelines
- Tree planting systems and use of rootbarriers – requirement for policy and guidelines
- Resistance to tree planting in residential streets and open spaces
- Disposal and recycling of timber and green waste
- Dublin Tree Canopy Study published March 2017 – review findings and implications for tree management in South Dublin
- SDCC Climate Change Action Plan
- Unauthorised removal of trees
- Tree risk management – identifying, prioritising and undertaking tree works according to categorised level of risk
As the next step in progressing the review of the Tree Management Policy, it is planned to organise a workshop for key representatives of internal Council departments to discuss issues proposed for review. The original working group from within the SPC is to be revisited as part of the review.