Independent Tree Panel announced

Tuesday 19 January 2016

Details of the Independent Tree Panel, an impartial panel of experts established to give advice following concerns about some highway trees in the city, have been confirmed.

The Independent Tree Panel will receive the responses to the consultation and the proposals for each tree on the affected streets, where 50% of the responses raise concerns about the council’s proposals.

The Chair of the panel, Andy Buck will be joined by:

• Jacquie Stubbs - Independent Panel Member
• Phillip Duckett – Consultant at STS Health and Safety
• David Graham - Managing Director of David A Graham Associates Limited
• Andy Bagshaw - Arboricultural Consultant

Cllr Tony Downing Cabinet Advisor for Environment and Transport, said: “We have said that we will listen to residents and ensure they are heard in the tree debate. We are doing just that through this Independent Tree Panel.”

Andy Buck added: “I’m pleased we have such high calibre of experts who have agreed to sit on the panel. The first surveys have now closed and have been analysed. The first streets and all the information relating to them, including residents’ responses to the household survey, have been referred to the panel.

“We will be meeting in the coming weeks to consider all the evidence and residents’ concerns. If we need further evidence or information then we will ask for this. Once we have all we need we will present our advice to the Council”.

Streets where more than 50% of respondents were in agreement with the original proposals will not be referred to the panel and will be returned to Amey. Details of the survey results, the streets referred to the panel, and the panel’s final reports will be available online via www.sheffield.gov.uk/treepanel.