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 will be procured to deliver the tree removal and replanting programme.
The Cabinet Member for Environment will be asked to:
1. approve the allocation of funding for the contract to deliver the programme
2. commence the procurement process and
3. delegate authority to the Director of Highways, Transport and Planning to award the contract for the programme
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Expenditure > £500,000;
Decision status: For Determination
Divisions affected: (All Divisions);
Notice of proposed decision first published: 23/03/2020
Decision due: May 2020 by Cabinet Member for Environment
Lead member: Councillor Deborah Urquhart deborah.urquhart@westsussex.gov.uk
Contact: Don Baker, Team Manager, Environment and Heritage Email: don.baker@westsussex.gov.uk Tel: 033 022 26439.
Consultation process
Representations concerning this proposed decision can be made to the Cabinet Member Environment, via the officer contact, by the beginning of the month in which the decision is due to be taken.
Consultees
Director of Law and Assurance
Director of Finance and Support Services
Democratic Services Contact: Judith Shore Tel: 033 022 26052
Background3: A Strong, Safe and Sustainable Place