Issue - meetings

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport.

36.1     The Team Manager, Environmental Advice introduced the report and outlined the background to Dutch Elm Disease (DED), which is a fungus spread by beetles which feed and breed in Elm trees . The County Council took part in a protection scheme in early 1970’s and adopted a sanitation programme. The remaining Elm tree population now forms the largest collection of mature English Elm trees in the world.

36.2     The Cambridge study examined whether it would be better to stop the sanitation programme or take targeted action to remove diseased trees. In the short term (around 20 years) the study concluded that it was both cheaper to continue the sanitation programme, as it reduces disease spread and therefore the number of trees that need felling, and it maintains a larger population of healthy trees.

36.3     The data (see graph on page 46) shows that there has been a significant reduction in the number of trees felled since 2012, which is broadly in line with what the Cambridge model predicted and has enabled a reduction in the DED budget of 11%.  Therefore, there is now more robust evidence that the sanitation programme is having the desired effect and it is anticipated that the number of trees that need felling will continue to fall until a lower, more sustainable level of felling is reached.

36.4     The Committee asked if there had been any new research into Dutch Elm Disease.  The Team Manager, Environmental Advice explained that there had been a lot of interest initially in research when the disease re-emerged in the 1970’s, but there has been little new research more recently.  Authorities in Amsterdam have a detailed Dutch Elm Disease control strategy and have an annual vaccination programme in place. The East Sussex County Council (ESCC) Team would like to trial the vaccine on the Eastbourne street trees.

36.5     The Team Manager, Environmental Advice confirmed that Dutch Elm Disease does not affect young Elm trees present in hedgerows. The infection by beetles depends on the size and condition of the tree. It is thought that if the wood is too wet, the beetles have difficulty burrowing into the tree and therefore do not attack the tree. The beetles have no known natural predators.

36.6     The Committee discussed the best timescale for a future review of the Dutch Elm Disease Strategy. The Committee concluded that it would like to have another update report it two years time and to invite the author of the Cambridge study to give evidence to the Committee. The Committee agreed to continue to support the Dutch Elm Disease sanitation programme.

36.7     The Committee RESOLVED to:

1)         Continue to support the Dutch Elm Disease sanitation programme; and

2)         Request an update report in two years time and invite the author of the Cambridge study to give evidence to the Committee.