Decision details

Ash Dieback is a disease that is likely to kill 95% of the county’s ash trees over the next 10–20 years.  This will have a major impact on the county’s landscape, the wildlife it supports, other ecosystems that trees provide and climate change.

It will also have a high impact on the county and the County Council, posing a significant risk to people, property (including schools) and the delivery of services (including highways).  Therefore, a corporate Ash Dieback Action Plan has been prepared to manage the impact of the disease.

The aim of the Plan is to effectively address the risks presented by the impact of ash dieback (which will require a programme of reactive and proactive tree removal and replanting), conserve the ecosystems in which ash trees are found across the county, and prepare for a positive regeneration phase with a net biodiversity gain. 

A specialist contractor needs to be procured to deliver the tree removal and replanting programme. Additional officer resources are required to support programme delivery.

The Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport has:

(1)     approved the commencement of a procurement process for a tree felling contract for Ash Dieback infected trees through an open tender process, the contract to commence on 1 April 2022; and

(2)     delegate authority to the Director of Highways, Transport and Planning, to award the contract to the successful bidder for an initial period of 4 years with optional extension periods of 1 year up to 7 years in total, in accordance with the County Council’s Standing Orders on Procurement Contracts.

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