Agenda item

[To receive information on the Arbor Services Future Plans Update, briefing note attached]. 

The Head of Environmental Services introduced the report on Arbor Services Future Plans Update.  He gave a presentation which covered the main points in the report, which had been circulated with the agenda.  This covered the expanded programme, the CEU (Councillor Enquiry Unit) development, tree planting co-ordination and a summary of the key work in the City.

The Head of Environmental Services stated that the number of existing highways tree inspections had doubled and a new two-yearly Condition Survey would be introduced to routinely inspect trees in the Council owned parks, green open spaces, cemeteries and land under the responsibility of the Corporate Landlord.  Additional resources had been identified and a review of work schedules and efficiencies were being delivered through the IT Solution ‘CONFIRM’ software.  The highway tree maintenance programme had been updated.  The Customer Services tree maintenance business rule had been revised to reflect the new inspections.  Emergency jobs went straight to the field to ensure a quick response.  CONFIRM had been configured for the Arboriculture operation and was also being used to schedule inspections and maintenance.

The Head of Environmental Services remarked that the service was also coordinating with Wolverhampton Homes and the Schools partners to ensure they were working to a two-year inspection programme.  There had been a significant investment in the Arbor Service to increase the inspection regime and to better use technology to support the maintenance programme. This would improve the information available to residents about trees and how and when they were maintained.  The service would experience an underspend this year, as there had been a delay in the recruitment to the Project Manager post and bringing in the agency tree inspectors, whilst the CONFRIM software had been developed.  The Project Manager he was pleased to say was now in post. 

The Head of Environmental Services stated that the team had experienced an unprecedented number of enquiries since it had gone live.  Prior to the CEU the Service would have on average 20 Councillor enquiries a year.  In the first 7 months of the CEU, 176 tree maintenance enquiries had been received.  It was 203 at the date of the meeting. They had been working with the CEU to address the challenges posed. 

The Head of Environmental Services commented that it was unfortunate that there had been an increase in verbal abuse and threats to the Council’s Arbor Service Officers due to unrealistic expectations of what tree maintenance can do for the issues that some residents faced.  They had improved the FAQ’s section on the CEU so Councillors could pass on this detailed information to residents when they approached them about tree enquiries. 

The Strategic Health Lead – Planning spoke on the matter of tree planting Co-ordination.   In 2021/22, 29,000 plus trees would have been planted by the City of Wolverhampton.  All of this planting had been carefully discussed and planned through the Tree Planting Co-ordination Group.  The Group was aware of the issue of maintenance.  This was taken into account when planting trees and when looking at funding streams to provide maintenance for them in the future.  The majority of tree planting was in areas where the trees would not need routine maintenance.  The service was receiving an extra £10,000 per annum from Parks Services to inspect new trees that had been planted.  It was not expected to plant trees at the same level in the future. 

The Head of Environmental Services concluded the presentation by saying that the current tree inspection and maintenance programme was working and there were clear plans to ensure that now the Council’s responsibility had increased due to the more frequent inspection programme, that they delivered on their legislative responsibility.  They needed to ensure that the right amount of resource was in place to deliver best value for the residents of Wolverhampton.  It would not solve all the residents’ complaints around trees and would not make everyone happy about all the decisions made, but it would make the service more transparent and accessible with more information on trees in the City available than ever before. 

The Cabinet for City Environment and Climate Change commented about the trees on the highways and footways.  Unless the tree was dead, diseased or dangerous, it was the Council’s policy not to take action unless absolutely necessary.  Making information more accessible would help the public with their understanding in how trees were managed.  He was proud of the work that had taken place with partners.  It was important to rely on the expert knowledge of the Arboriculturists. 

Panel Members condemned any abuse that was being received by the Arboriculturists.  Panel Members praised the work of the team. 

A Panel Member asked about the underspend, where the extra resources were coming from and how Councillors should log emergency requests.  He also raised a point about ownership of land and if the Council did own the land which department was responsible.  It had been difficult for him to obtain this information during a recent case, which had caused him some surprise.   

The Head of Environmental Services responded that some of the resources would come through recruitment to permanent staff positions and some would be agency staff.  Recruitment of permanent staff would take place over the next twelve months.  The underspend would go back into the general fund.  The CEU could log Councillor enquiries, but if it was an emergency, Customer Services were the best to contact. 

A Panel Member complimented the Officers involved in the tree planting project.  The Head of Environmental Services echoed the point.

The Temporary Director for City Environment and Housing thanked Members for their compliments.  The recent storms had highlighted some of the challenges the Arbor Service team faced.  This often meant working through the night.  He was aware that sometimes decisions on trees were not popular and that was why it was important that Councillors had all the information available to them on how the Council managed trees.

A Panel Member asked about Acorn Tree Services and whether the Council would need to sub-contract any more work in the future.  The Head of Environmental Services responded that the Council had their own in-house team and also used Acorn Tree Services as a sub-contractor.   They used them during storm damage, which was imperative. They also did Arbor work associated with tree maintenance to supplement the in-house team.  They wanted to keep the services of Acorn. 

The Cabinet Member for City Environment and Climate Changed thanked the Scrutiny Panel Members for their comments and gave praise to the Head of Environmental Services for his work and that of his team.  The Chair thanked the Arbor Services team on behalf of the Panel.  She also gave praise to the Scrutiny team for their support for the meeting logistics.