The council strategy recognises that people, in general, play an important role in tree safety management, including non-specialists and the public, who alert the authority to tree problems. The authority’s finite resources are allocated to meet its duty of care as far as is reasonably practicable through a defendable, proactive tree-management regime. The economic climate has affected the council in the last decade and resources have had to be carefully considered and prioritised. Funds saved by taking an informed, proportionate approach to risk management, using a risk of harm assessment method as a guide, leave some funds available for investment in planting and establishment, and for maintaining the health of mature trees, woodland and soil. By making this investment, the council aims to enhance its trees’ capacity to respond and adapt to changes in their environment and their structural condition.

Given the significant number of trees for which the council is responsible, tree inspection frequency is determined by a system of zoning, whereby land is categorised in terms of high, medium or low occupancy, according to the level of occupancy by people, and/or value of property, within striking distance of trees. Highway engineers and other non-arboricultural staff, who have received training in basic tree inspection, carry out informal checks and formal drive-by checks. Any concerns arising from these checks are escalated to the tree team.

The tree officers schedule walk-over checks of trees in the high occupancy zones, most of which are next to highways or on housing land, on a three-yearly cycle. They check trees in medium occupancy zones every five years. In both of these occupancy zones, where necessary, they identify specific trees for more frequent assessment based upon position, size and condition. Trees in low occupancy zones are managed reactively using informal procedures.

The council recognises the particularly high value of large mature or veteran trees and its policy is to conserve all such trees for as long as they can be safely retained. Where such a tree is adjacent to a busy highway or elsewhere in a high occupancy zone, it is retained provided the associated risk of harm is assessed as being within the tolerable region.

High value trees in high occupancy zones with structural features that might deteriorate rapidly are singled out for annual checks; these include ash trees with advanced symptoms of Chalara ash dieback.

Trees on housing land are inventoried and individual trees deemed to require proactive management have return inspections scheduled for between one and five years, depending on zoning and the size and condition of the tree. The council recognises that due to their location these trees have the most potential for conflict with people. In this context the tree inventory is an effective management tool to reduce the burden of enquiries and requests for non-essential tree inspections, while also ensuring that an appropriate level of proactive management is in place for all trees that require it

The council recognises that oak processionary moth (OPM), which is spreading rapidly through the borough, poses an immune-system health risk to people living near to infested oak trees. To ensure that the risk is kept low enough to avoid a future case for felling such trees, the council has identified and surveys all these trees each year for OPM nests and endeavours to remove all the nests found. Extra funds are currently being made available for this strategy because the council recognises the value of its extensive oak tree and woodland habitat to local people and nature. However, this funding is subject to review should priorities change. On other publicly accessible sites where OPM is likely to be present, people are alerted to this with clear signage, and if nests low down on trees are reported to the council near public rights of way or other thoroughfares, then they will be removed.

The two tree officers carry out the proactive survey work and respond to enquiries from the public concerning essential tree management. Enquiries about specified, non-essential tree ‘issues’ that the council does not manage are referred by customer service representatives to information on the council’s website. OPM surveying is carried out by an independent ecologist.

The tree officers use a fit-for-purpose geographic information system (GIS)- based computer management system to inspect and audit its tree stock, capturing data electronically on site. Residents’ enquiries about tree-related hazards are logged and categorised so that they can be followed up where appropriate.

Surveys have shown that the residents value trees and their open spaces. The council is also committed to fulfilling its duty of care, ensuring its residents, visitors and staff live, work and play in a reasonably safe environment. Despite being challenged by reduced public funds, the borough council has demonstrated its commitment by allocating resources to its specialist staff, the development of a tree strategy, an ongoing programmed inspection regime and software management system.