Decision details

Proposed decision:

To adopt Plan Tree as the Council’s Tree Establishment Strategy; and

delegate to the Director Environment & Waste under the Officer Scheme of Delegations following prior consultation with the Cabinet Member any further or other decisions as may be appropriate to deliver the Kent Plan Tree Strategy.

Background Information:

In 2019, off the back of the County Council recognising a climate and ecological emergency, the then Cabinet Member for Planning, Highways, Transport and Waste stated a commitment for 1.5 million trees to be established, a tree for every person in Kent.

Plan Tree, Kent County Council’s Tree Establishment Strategy, sets out how we will turn this ambition into a reality and see tree cover across the county extended.

The Strategy sets an ambition for the county to see tree cover extended by 1.5 million by 2030 and that by 2050, Kent will have an average tree canopy cover of 19% (an increase from the current 17%). The delivery of these new trees, alongside the protection and restoration of existing trees, hedgerow and woodland, will support the recovery of wildlife, provide natural climate solutions and enrich people’s lives. These new trees will be delivered by working in partnership.   

Kent County Council aims to contribute directly to this county target by establishing new trees across its own estate.  Although our ambitions will be greater, at a very minimum we will establish 28,600 trees per annum on land we own, manage or influence, representing a tree for every person in our own workforce.  Further, Kent County Council members will have the opportunity to contribute by establishing trees within their own divisions across the four-year term; based on a target of 350 trees per division, this will account for another 28,350 trees within the county.

All trees established under our Strategy will follow four principles for tree establishment:

1.    Better management and protection of existing stock

2.    The right tree, in the right place, for the right reason, with the right management.

3.    Deliver multiple benefits.

4.    Ensure the biosecurity of new tree stock through application of strict standards.

Establishing the right trees, in the right places will help deliver benefits for Kent’s wildlife, people and economy.  Through extending tree cover in Kent, and delivering Plan Tree, we aim to deliver the following objectives:

·         Contribute to Kent County Council’s, and the county’s, net zero targets.

·         Reduce and reverse the trend of decline in nature and loss of trees.

·         Tackle the multiple threats to our trees.

·         Deliver nature based solutions to some of the county’s challenges.

·         Provide enhanced and improved recreation and amenity.

·         Address the decline in trees outside woodland and decline in urban trees.

·         Realise the economic benefits.

·         Increase our knowledge and provide better protection.

The Strategy sets out some specific actions that will be taken to progress delivery of the ambitions and objectives of Plan Tree.  These actions focus on:

1.    Delivering against the tree establishment target.

2.    Exemplar provision for trees on our own estate.

3.    Improving protection to trees in Kent.

4.    Improving our understanding of Kent’s trees.

5.    Developing the Kent carbon offset market for unavoidable emissions.

Plan Tree is specifically referenced under Priority 3 of Framing Kent’s Future – environmental step change.  It provides the strategic framework for the delivery of action for extending tree cover in the county, as committed to with the council’s strategy for 2022 to 2026.

As Cabinet Member for Environment, I agree to:

a) adopt Plan Tree as the Council’s Tree Establishment Strategy; and

b) delegate to the Director Environment & Waste under the Officer Scheme of Delegations following prior consultation with the Cabinet Member any further or other decisions as may be appropriate to deliver The Kent Plan Tree Strategy.