Agenda item

The Executive Member will consider a report which sets out the recommended final woodland masterplan showing the suggested spatial layout and key features of York Community Woodland following public consultation and co-design. The masterplan is accompanied by indicative outline costs and a suggested phased implementation schedule.

The report also sets out options for the external capital funding source to support the physical creation of York Community Woodland and for appointing a woodland creation delivery partner to lead this work on behalf of City of York Council.

Resolved:

i.             That the final woodland design masterplan be approved as the basis for woodland creation and for submission to Forestry Commission for woodland approval and the associated indicative outline costs and phased woodland creation implementation schedule be noted.

Reason: The masterplan meets the design brief and will guide the creation of York Community Woodland and ensure it meets the community woodland vision, agreed project objectives and Forestry Commission regulatory requirements,

ii.            That the recommendation to select Forestry England as the external capital funding source be approved, to support York Community Woodland and act as the council’s woodland creation delivery partner, based on the options appraisal set out in the report.

The Executive Member was presented with the option to select either the White Rose Forest Trees for Climate Fund or Forestry England as the external capital funding source.

Reason: The external funder and woodland creation deliver partner will work with the council to create and manage the woodland in line with shared objectives, priorities and timescales. Approving the recommendation will enable the Director of Place in association with the Director of Governance and relevant officers to negotiate and enter into a formal lease agreement with Forestry England under Delegated Authority granted by the council’s Executive on 26 August 2021.

iii.          That the publication of any necessary ‘open space’ disposal Notice under S.123(2A) of the Local Government Act 1972 be approved. If any comments are received from the public in response to such Notice, these will be referred to the Executive Member for Environment and Climate Change for consideration.

Reason: To ensure compliance with the Council’s obligations pursuant to S.123(2A) of the Local Government Act 1972.

The Executive Member considered a report which set out the

recommended final woodland masterplan showing the suggested

spatial layout and key features of York Community Woodland

following public consultation and co-design. The masterplan was

accompanied by indicative outline costs and a suggested phased

implementation schedule.

The report also set out options for external capital funding

to support the physical creation of York Community

Woodland and for appointing a woodland creation delivery partner

to lead this work on behalf of City of York Council. The Assistant Director Policy and Strategy and York Community Woodland Project Manager were in attendance to present the report and respond to questions.

Key points arising from the presentation of the report included:

·        That at the meeting of the Executive in August 2021, approval of the design, delivery partner and ‘open space’ disposal notice publication was delegated to the Executive Member for Environment and Climate Change.

·        That extensive consultation with residents and community groups was undertaken to inform the vision and masterplan, and officers thanked those who took part.

·        That officers recommended selecting Forestry England as the external capital funding source, for the reasons set out in the report. Selecting Forestry England would allow the Corporate Director of Place and the Director of Governance to progress negotiations to enter a formal lease agreement.

·        That details of the other options available to the Executive Member were set out in the report.

The Executive Member thanked officers for their report, and also thanked both Forestry England and the White Rose Forest for their work on the the York Community Woodland.

Resolved:

i.             That the final woodland design masterplan be approved as the basis for woodland creation and for submission to Forestry Commission for woodland approval and the associated indicative outline costs and phased woodland creation implementation schedule be noted.

Reason: The masterplan meets the design brief and will guide the creation of York Community Woodland and ensure it meets the community woodland vision, agreed project objectives and Forestry Commission regulatory requirements,

ii.            That the recommendation to select Forestry England as the external capital funding source be approved, to support York Community Woodland and act as the council’s woodland creation delivery partner, based on the options appraisal set out in the report.

The Executive Member was presented with the option to select either the White Rose Forest Trees for Climate Fund or Forestry England as the external capital funding source.

Reason: The external funder and woodland creation deliver partner will work with the council to create and manage the woodland in line with shared objectives, priorities and timescales. Approving the recommendation will enable the Director of Place in association with the Director of Governance and relevant officers to negotiate and enter into a formal lease agreement with Forestry England under Delegated Authority granted by the council’s Executive on 26 August 2021.

iii.          That the publication of any necessary ‘open space’ disposal Notice under S.123(2A) of the Local Government Act 1972 be approved. If any comments are received from the public in response to such Notice, these will be referred to the Executive Member for Environment and Climate Change for consideration.

Reason: To ensure compliance with the Council’s obligations pursuant to S.123(2A) of the Local Government Act 1972.