Decision details

Approval of the White Rose Forest Strategy for Leeds.

The strategy sets out the way in which woodland and tree planting will be increased throughout the district by bringing together the resources of the council, business, communities, institutions and residents. Leeds is part of the White Rose Forest which includes the Leeds City Region and North Yorkshire.

The Director of Resources and Housing submitted a report that set out proposals for the Council to lead on an ambitious initiative to increase tree planting throughout the district in order to capture and store carbon. This was intended to be through tree planting on Council owned land and also enabling and assisting partners and the wider community to plant trees on other land throughout the area.

Prior to the meeting, Board Members were in receipt of an updated map which replaced the original version as detailed within Figure 11 of the strategy document, as presented at Appendix 1 to the submitted report.

Also, the Board noted a correction to the submitted report at section 4.4.1, in that the Council had already committed £3.5m to the Woodland Creation scheme, rather than the £1.4m as stated.

Responding to a Member’s enquiry, the importance of consultation with local Ward Councillors and the community was emphasised, with the Board being advised of the work which had been undertaken in this area to date. Moving forward, officers undertook to engage with Community Committees on this initiative, with specific reference being made to how liaison could potentially take place with owners of smaller areas of land in the locality.

Members also discussed the funding sources available that local Ward Councillors could potentially utilise for the planting of trees in the local community, with consideration also being given to the flexible approach that needed to be taken in relation to tree planting across the city.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That subject to the correction to para 4.4.1 (above) the contents of the submitted report be noted; and that subject to the replacement of the submitted map at Figure 11 of the strategy document with the updated version as provided to Board Members (as referenced above),  the White Rose Forest Strategy for Leeds, as detailed at Appendix 1 to the submitted report, be endorsed;

(b)  That it be noted that the Chief Officer, Sustainable Energy and Air Quality will be responsible for progressing the implementation of the White Rose Forest Strategy for Leeds;

(c)  That it be noted that a professionally designed strategy document with the same content will be completed after Executive Board in January 2021.

Internal meetings, discussions with key partners and sending summary strategy document to stakeholders for comment.

Major landowners, institutions, education sector, organisations including NFU, environmental, community groups.