Issue - meetings

RESOLVED:

1.    That the New Tree Strategy be approved.

2.    That the continued engagement with partners in order to develop a delivery plan which will support the strategy and our ambition to facilitate the planting of 1.2 million trees by 2030 be supported. This will be completed by September 2020 to align with the start of the tree planting period.

3.    That engagement with partners to develop a wider Land Use Framework, to be completed by March 2021 be supported.

Reason for decision:

Implementation of the Strategy will result not only in reductions in carbon emissions, thereby helping to mitigate climate change, but it will also have numerous co-benefits for residents’ health and wellbeing. Trees and woodland have been proven to be good for both our mental health by minimising anxiety and stress for those able to enjoy green spaces, and our physical health by improving air quality through the same carbon capture that makes them so beneficial to the mitigation of climate change.

In addition, trees play an important role in climate change adaptation by providing areas of shade in built up urban areas during heatwaves as well as providing a source of natural flood risk management. Increasing tree cover in the county will create biodiversity benefits and increased habitats, provided that the right trees are planted in the right places.

Finally, it is important to note that other types of natural capital also play an important role in sequestering CO2 and minimising the impacts of climate change. The proposed Land Use Framework will provide a mechanism that enables the Council and our partners to understand the condition and full potential and value of our natural environment, as well as how we can best support that environment.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee]

The Cabinet Member for Environment & Waste introduced a report that set out the Council’s New Tree Strategy which included the vision that ‘by 2030 Surrey will benefit from 1.2 million new trees, with the right trees planted in the right places, including both urban and rural locations, and supported to grow to maturity’.  This equates to one tree planted for each resident of Surrey. The first of the new trees in Surrey was planted on 5 October 2019 at the Surrey Hills Wood Fair.  Many community organisations and borough & district councils had got involved and were identifying site for planting.

Several Cabinet Members thanked both the Cabinet Member for Environment & Waste and the Cabinet Member for Highways for the work they had undertaken in bringing this about.

RESOLVED:

1. That the New Tree Strategy be approved.

2. That the continued engagement with partners in order to develop a delivery plan which will support the strategy and our ambition to facilitate the planting of 1.2 million trees by 2030 be supported. This will be completed by September 2020 to align with the start of the tree planting period.

3. That engagement with partners to develop a wider Land Use Framework, to be completed by March 2021 be supported.

Reason for decision:

Implementation of the Strategy will result not only in reductions in carbon emissions, thereby helping to mitigate climate change, but it will also have numerous co-benefits for residents’ health and wellbeing. Trees and woodland have been proven to be good for both our mental health by minimising anxiety and stress for those able to enjoy green spaces, and our physical health by improving air quality through the same carbon capture that makes them so beneficial to the mitigation of climate change.

In addition, trees play an important role in climate change adaptation by providing areas of shade in built up urban areas during heatwaves as well as providing a source of natural flood risk management. Increasing tree cover in the county will create biodiversity benefits and increased habitats, provided that the right trees are planted in the right places.

Finally, it is important to note that other types of natural capital also play an important role in sequestering CO2 and minimising the impacts of climate change. The proposed Land Use Framework will provide a mechanism that enables the Council and our partners to understand the condition and full potential and value of our natural environment, as well as how we can best support that environment.