Issue - meetings

This report sets out progress towards finalising City of York Council’s tree planting proposals for the 2024/25 tree planting season as part of the York Green Streets initiative. The report also seeks Executive Member approval to engage the market to help identify likely costs of tree supply, installation, and aftercare and grant delegated authority to the Director of City Development in consultation with the Director of Finance and Director of Governance to award delivery contracts subject to grant funding being secured.

Resolved:

i)   That the categorisation of remaining planting opportunities into distinct planting specification types and a process of market engagement to assess implementation costs – accepting the risks and opportunities associated with planting trees within York’s urban area, particularly on sites within a highway setting, be approved.

Reason: To enable effective market engagement to establish accurate pricing of planting proposals, whilst understanding the risks and opportunities if tree planting within York’s urban area, especially highways settings.

ii)   That delegated authority be granted to the Director of City Development in consultation with the Director of Finance and Director of Governance to award delivery contracts subject to grant funding bids being successful.

Reason: So that contract procurement can proceed swiftly following confirmation of grant funding.

The Executive Member considered a report that set out progress towards finalising City of York Council’s (CYC) tree planting proposals for the 2024/25 tree planting season as part of the York Green Streets (YGS) initiative. The report also asked the Executive Member to consider the risks and opportunities associated with urban tree planting, particularly in relation to sites within a highway setting.

The report sought Executive Member approval to engage the market to help identify likely costs of tree supply, installation, and aftercare and grant delegated authority to the Director of City Development in consultation with the Director of Finance and Director of Governance to award delivery contracts subject to grant funding being secured.

The Interim Director of City Development and the York Green Streets Project Manager highlighted that the Council Plan 2023-2028 set a target to plant 4,000 new trees within York’s urban area as part of a wider aim to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change, support nature recovery and improve health and wellbeing outcomes. They also confirmed that the focus was ensuring the right tree species would be planted in the right location and officers had consulted with landscape consultants to assess the sites suggested. Sixty-four feasible planting sites had been identified and the architects also suggested appropriate tree species for each location based on the principle right tree right place.

The Executive Member noted the risks and opportunities and officers confirmed that they had undertaken a detailed consultation process with various teams across the council and with external partners across the region. It was also noted that more localised resident consultation would be undertaken where required.

Officers were thanked for their instrumental work in progressing this forward to deliver within the tight tree planting timetable. The Executive Member also reiterated how tree planting aligned with the city’s climate change objectives and how trees had the potential to provide urban cooling, shading and natural flood resilience whilst also enhancing biodiversity and connectivity to nature.

The Executive Member also recognised how positive engagement from residents would support officers to proceed swiftly, and it was:

Resolved:

i)    That the categorisation of remaining planting opportunities into distinct planting specification types and a process of market engagement to assess implementation costs – accepting the risks and opportunities associated with planting trees within York’s urban area, particularly on sites within a highway setting, be approved.

Reason: To enable effective market engagement to establish accurate pricing of planting proposals, whilst understanding the risks and opportunities if tree planting within York’s urban area, especially highways settings.

ii)   That delegated authority be granted to the Director of City Development in consultation with the Director of Finance and Director of Governance to award delivery contracts subject to grant funding bids being successful.

Reason: So that contract procurement can proceed swiftly following confirmation of grant funding.