Leicester City Council

3. Responding to global obligations

Respond appropriately and proportionately to the threat of pests and disease epidemics

Measured by	Lead responsibility	Current position
Monitor the impact of Ash Dieback.	T&W	Ash dieback disease is already having a significant impact on the tree stock in the city. Nationally the disease has been under reported and public awareness of it is low. It is still unclear how fast the disease will establish itself in the city and start to cause significant practical problems. In 2021/22 10 Ash trees in poor condition were felled due to Ash Dieback, but many others have been identified with this disease, and significantly more Ash will be removed in 2022/23. Contingency budget in capital programme for 2022/23 to react and manage. The council’s Ash Dieback Action Plan will be released in 2022/23. This will give more details on the ash trees in the city and budget and human resources required.
Through tree surveys identify concerns on tree stock health and condition and review each site for potential pathogens.	T&W	Western Park phase 1 sanitation works was completed in 2021/22. This was the felling of 60 trees, the majority infected by Phytophthora a fungus that infects the host tree. Western Park phase 2 works will be undertaken in 2022/23 to fell & replace the Pine trees infected with Needle Blight. This fungus infects the needles and gradually defoliates the tree. Contingency budget in capital programme for 2022/23 to react and manage.

Measured by

Lead responsibility

Current position

Monitor the impact of Ash Dieback.

T&W

Ash dieback disease is already having a significant impact on the tree stock in the city. Nationally the disease has been under reported and public awareness of it is low. It is still unclear how fast the disease will establish itself in the city and start to cause significant practical problems.

In 2021/22 10 Ash trees in poor condition were felled due to Ash Dieback, but many others have been identified with this disease, and significantly more Ash will be removed in 2022/23.

Contingency budget in capital programme for 2022/23 to react and manage.

The council’s Ash Dieback Action Plan will be released in 2022/23. This will give more details on the ash trees in the city and budget and human resources required.

Through tree surveys identify concerns on tree stock health and condition and review each site for potential pathogens.

T&W

Western Park phase 1 sanitation works was completed in 2021/22. This was the felling of 60 trees, the majority infected by Phytophthora a fungus that infects the host tree.

Western Park phase 2 works will be undertaken in 2022/23 to fell & replace the Pine trees infected with Needle Blight. This fungus infects the needles and gradually defoliates the tree.

Contingency budget in capital programme for 2022/23 to react and manage.

Recycle the materials that arise from the management of trees, including the use of wood as a carbon-neutral fuel

Measured by	Lead responsibility	Current position
Volume of material diverted from landfill and recycled.	T&W	By diverting by-product waste from landfill, costs of £115k per annum have been avoided on landfill costs and transporting costs. Woodchip is recycled for biofuel. Recycled by tonnage/total sale value/percentage recycled 2021/22 – 1000t / 100%
Volume of material diverted from landfill and recycled.	T&W	By diverting by-product waste from landfill, costs of £115k per annum have been avoided on landfill costs and transporting costs. Woodchip is recycled for biofuel. Recycled by tonnage/total sale value/percentage recycled 2021/22 – 1000t / 100%

Measured by

Lead responsibility

Current position

Volume of material diverted from landfill and recycled.

T&W

By diverting by-product waste from landfill, costs of £115k per annum have been avoided on landfill costs and transporting costs. Woodchip is recycled for biofuel.

Recycled by tonnage/total sale value/percentage recycled

2021/22 – 1000t / 100%