Decision details

41.1     The Environment Team Manager introduced the report. This is an update of the report brought to the Committee in March 2013, when the Committee endorsed the prioritised approach to managing Dutch Elm Disease (DED). The original scientific model, upon which the prioritised approach is based, is included in appendix 1 of the report.

41.2     The analysis of the scientific model looked at 3 options to manage Dutch Elm Disease:

·        Stopping felling of dead or diseased trees.

·        Continuing with the established (historic) felling programme.

·        Taking a prioritised approach to sanitation felling of dead or diseased trees.

The recommendation was that East Sussex adopts the prioritised approach to managing Dutch Elm Disease.

41.3     The Dutch Elm Disease strategy has been updated in the light of experience over the last two years (appendix 2 of the report). The prioritised approach appears to be working. The data from the last two years confirms that the assumptions used in the model are broadly correct. The cost of felling dead and diseased trees to date has been higher than forecast, but costs are expected to fall in future years. There are some uncertainties in the future such as the impact of climate change on the way the disease spreads.

41.4     The Committee discussed a number of aspects of the report, which are summarised below.

Scope of the Dutch Elm Disease Management Scheme

41.5     The Dutch Elm Disease strategy covers the whole Elm population within the designated DED sanitation zone of East Sussex and not just those trees growing on East Sussex County Council (ESCC) owned land or on land that is part of the highway. An analysis of activity over the last two years shows that most trees felled are on private land.

41.6     Regionally ESCC is not the only organisation that has a programme for dealing with Dutch Elm Disease.

·        Brighton and Hove City Council has a control programme;

·        Adur District Council has a small control programme; and

·        Eastbourne Borough Council has a control programme for street trees, which it manages on behalf of ESCC.

41.7     The Dutch Elm Disease Officer inspects all Elm trees within the control zone twice a year. One of the priorities in the next two years is to re-survey the Elm tree population. The resources for the survey work will come from existing officer time.

Size of Elm Tree Population

41.8     The size of the Elm tree population is estimated to be 18,500. The department considers this to be a reasonably accurate estimate. The majority of trees are on private land and ESCC is responsible for Highway trees growing in verges, pavements and alongside roads. The Dutch Elm Disease Officer is getting access to private land through good working relationships with landowners, and also works closely with tree contractors.

Cost of Dutch Elm Disease (DED) Strategy

41.9     Dealing with Dutch Elm Disease is an open ended programme, and the report provides cost estimates of the various options. The cost of felling trees varies depending on where the tree is located. The £460 cost for felling a highway tree includes the cost of removal and disposal, but is higher than the £60 - £80 average due to the cost of the highway traffic control measures that are required. The costs do include stump removal, which may be carried out at a later date from felling due to the need to use  specialist contractors.

41.10   It is important that the prioritised approach is financially sustainable in the longer term. The report recommends an increase in the charge to private land owners for removing a diseased tree to 75% of the cost (an increase from 50% currently). The report estimates that the cost of adopting the prioritised approach will remain lower than the “do nothing” option in the medium term.

41.11   Diseased trees can be chemically treated, but this is a very expensive option. Forestry Commission advice confirms that the selective sanitation felling used in the prioritised approach is likely to be more effective than chemical treatment.

Contaminated Timber Disposal and Monitoring

41.12   The Committee questioned the arrangements for disposing of diseased timber and asked what monitoring arrangements were in place to ensure the correct treatment of diseased wood.

41.13   There is a risk of disease transmission from infected timber and bio hazard control measures need to be put in place to reduce this risk. The department makes sure that it appoints the right contractors to undertake Dutch Elm Disease work. There is probably more risk from the tree contractors ESCC does not work with and private land owners who undertake their own tree felling work.

41.14   ESCC recommends that all diseased timber is burnt, and usually requires private land owners and contractors to do so. The department takes care when selecting contractors, so that they understand the control measures they need to put in place to prevent the spread of the disease. It also requires them to have access to burn sites that they can use when it is not possible to burn felled trees on site.

41.15   There is no licencing scheme for the disposal of diseased timber and ESCC has no powers to enforce the correct disposal of diseased material. The department does have a programme that aims to inform contractors and land owners of how to dispose of diseased material properly. When working with private landowners, the department always tries to get the contractor to dispose of the felled timber and not to allow the landowner to retain the wood.

Tree Planting and Tree Wardens

41.16   The Council provides advice on re-planting lost Elm trees with disease resistant varieties. However, there is no clear evidence that there is a completely disease resistant strain of Elm. Young trees have to mature before they become prone to the disease. So there is a risk that replacement trees may need felling. ESCC cannot compel landowners and others to replant trees and does not offer to replace lost trees. However, ESCC has taken part in some community tree planting with disease resistant trees.

41.17   Parish Councils can appoint Tree Wardens and there are seventeen of them around the County. The majority of Tree Wardens are volunteers who are supported by the Dutch Elm Disease Officer.

Issues to take forward

41.18   The Committee expressed concerns about the monitoring of the disposal arrangements for diseased timber. Officers were asked to take this issue away to investigate what further measures could be undertaken. The Environment Team Manager said he would instigate checks of contractor yards and burn sites with immediate effect.

41.19   The Committee questioned whether the removal of diseased trees and their stumps was happening in a timely way within the Borough of Eastbourne. The Assistant Director, Operations agreed to investigate and confirm what arrangements are in place.

41.20   RESOLVED: It was resolved to agree the recommendations of the report to:

(1)        Continue to support the prioritised approach to sanitation felling;

(2)        Note that the County Council will increase the contribution requested from private landowners to 75%; and

(3)        Request another progress report in March 2017 to further consider whether the sanitation programme is continuing to deliver the outcomes as currently predicted