Decision details

Street Tree Service Outcomes Amends

Decision Maker: Director of Streetscene and Regulation

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Purpose:

To update the Street Ahead Highways Maintenance Contract to reflect the Sheffield Street Tree Partnership Strategy, which sets out an approach to retain street trees where possible by using a flexible combination of arboricultural or highway engineering solutions, enhanced monitoring and maintenance of street trees, appropriate species selection, and decisions on the removal and replacement of street trees made on a case-by-case basis.

Decision:

That the Director of Streetscene and Regulations approves the proposals to vary the Highways Maintenance Contract as set out in this report to: 

-        remove the requirement for a five-year tree management strategy and replace this with a requirement to co-operate with the Street Tree Partnership. 

-       add a new requirement to provide health and safety training and equipment for the Street Tree Wardens. 

-       remove the quantities of 200 trees per year and 17,500 trees by the end of the term from Performance Requirement 6.38 of Schedule 2 Part 6 (Service Standard 6).  

-       align the selection of replacement street trees to species as detailed in the Sheffield Street Tree Strategy.

-       make any necessary consequential amendments to give effect to the changes above.

Reasons for the decision:

To ensure the contract reflects the strategic approach for the Council with the Sheffield Street Tree Partnership.

Alternative options considered:

The option to ‘do nothing’ is not considered to be a viable option.  The Council is a committed partner of the Sheffield Street Tree Partnership.  As the Amey contract is the delivery route for street tree maintenance, it is necessary to amend the contract to clarify the new requirements to Amey arising from the Sheffield Street Tree Partnership Strategy.

Publication date: 31/01/2023

Date of decision: 13/01/2023

Accompanying Documents: