Decision details

To consider the Tree Strategy, which sets out the council’s approach to managing, preserving, and expanding tree cover across Cheltenham.

RESOLVED THAT:

1.            the Cheltenham Tree Strategy is approved and the Director of Planning and Building Control is delegated in consultation with Cabinet Member for Planning and Building Control to make any minor amendments prior to publication;

2.            the Director of Planning and Building Control in consultation with Cabinet Member for Planning and Building Control is delegated to make any amendments arising from future reviews of the Tree Strategy to ensure it remains relevant and up to date as a management tool.

The Tree strategy will set out the Councils approach to managing, preserving, and expanding tree cover across Cheltenham. This will sit alongside the emerging Nature Recovery Supplementary Planning Document and forms part of the council’s climate emergency action plan: pathway to net zero.

This responds to Corporate Plan Priority 2 - Working with residents, communities and businesses to help make Cheltenham net zero by 2030.

Reports or documents to be used in arriving at decision

·           Best practice from other councils & industry guidance

·           Woodlands Trust – tree strategy checklist

·           Tree equity score

·           CBC/GCC tree data translated into GIS heat maps

·           Woodland Trust is a partner in developing the Tree Strategy – engagement is ongoing

·           NCLB - youth engagement/community-based questionnaire – Spring 2025

·           Broad engagement with wide range of stakeholders in input into Tree Strategy vision, objectives and outcomes – July 2025

·           Targeted engagement with key stakeholders – July/August 2025

Officers to be consulted/involved in drafting the report

Climate Change Team

Ecologist

Finance

OneLegal

Communities Team