Issue - meetings

At its meeting held on 20^th July, Cabinet resolved:-

(1)   That the contents of the report be noted;

(2)   That bearing in mind the long-term future of the sequoia tree and Park in general, the tree be removed and the landscape plan as originally agreed by the National Heritage Lottery Board be continued with.

In accordance with the Call-In Procedure for Cabinet Decisions, the procedure has been activated. The Call-In relates specifically to the decision to remove the sequoia tree from the park. The following documents are included:

Call-In Form

Copy of Cabinet Report from 20^th July 2016 – Rhyddings Park Heritage Lottery Bid

Extract From Minutes of Cabinet on 20^th July 2016

The following documents are included in addition to provide relevant background information:

Rhyddings Park Heritage Lottery Bid (Council, 7^th July 2016)

MPTrees AIA Sequoia Rhyddings Park April 2016 (Council, 7^th July 2016)

Rhyddings Park Heritage Lottery Bid (Cabinet, 8^th June 2016)

Rhyddings Park Heritage Lottery Bid (Cabinet, 3^rd December 2014)

Recommended – That a decision on the Call-In be reached.

The Chair informed the Committee that the purpose of the meeting was to consider a recommendation arising from the meeting of the Cabinet held on 20^th July 2016, when it had been resolved:-

(1)        That the contents of the report be noted; 

(2)        That bearing in mind the long-term future of the sequoia tree and Park in general, the tree be removed and the landscape plan as originally agreed by the national Heritage Lottery Board be continued with.

The following documents were submitted:-

i)          Call-In Form

ii)         Rhyddings Park Heritage Lottery Bid (Copy of Cabinet Report dated 20^th July 2016)

iii)         Extract from Minutes of Cabinet dated 20^th July 2016

iv)        Rhyddings Park Heritage Lottery Bid (Copy of Council  Report dated 7^th July 2016)

v)         MPTrees AIA Sequoia Rhyddings Park April 2016 (Copy of Council Report dated 7^th July 2016)

vi)        Rhyddings Park Heritage Lottery Bid (Copy of Cabinet Report dated 8^th June 2016)

vii)       Rhyddings Park Heritage Lottery Bid (Copy of Cabinet Report dated 3^rd December 2014)

In accordance with the Call-In Procedure for Cabinet Decisions, the Procedure had been activated by two members of the Committee (Councillors Lisa Allen and Terry Hurn) specifically in relation to the decision to remove the sequoia tree from the Park.   Councillor Judith Addison (Sponsor) was in attendance at the meeting and the undermentioned reason was given for the call-in:-

“The controversy about the sequoia tree has arisen because Ward Councillors and local residents were never consulted about the Stage 2 Bid, despite statements to the contrary in the Customer First Analysis dated 20^th May 2016.  It was only at Stage 2 that the relocation of the Market Cross and consequent felling of the sequoia tree were introduced – they did not feature in the Stage 1 Bid or in the planning consent for the refurbishment and improvement of the Park – Planning Application No. 11/14/0359”.

The call-in related to the following:-

(a)        Cabinet’s recommendation for felling of the sequoia tree was clear but was based on a false premise.

(b)        Councillors and residents had never seen the Stage 2 Bid documentation.

(c)        The Stage 1 Bid submitted by Newground on 30/08/13 had not mentioned the Market Cross or sequoia tree.  Planning Consent 11/14/0359 for the Heritage Lottery Scheme, granted on 11/12/14, related solely to the Coach House area at the top of the Park.  The English Heritage comments dated 20/10/14 on the Case File confirmed that.  Consent to fell the sequoia had been granted under Ref. 11/16/0027 – Works to / Felling of various trees within Rhyddings Conservation Area.  Simon Prideaux’s “decision letter” of 16/03/16 stated that the Council would not be issuing Tree Preservation Orders in respect of any of the trees listed – “The reason for that was that the Council’s Cabinet had supported the proposals for the refurbishment and improvement of Rhyddings Park and that application had been made on the basis that those works to trees formed an integral  ...  view the full minutes text for item 118

Report attached.

Portfolio Holder for Health and Communities (Councillor Munsif Dad)

The Leader of the Council submitted an update report on the situation regarding the Heritage Lottery Bid for Rhyddings Park, Oswaldtwistle.  In January 2016 the Council had been informed that the Bid to carry out refurbishment works at the Park had been successful.  In late January 2016, a petition had been started on Facebook due to some local opposition to one element of the Park’s refurbishment, the removal of the sequoia tree to facilitate the landscape improvements to the Rhyddings Street entrance of the Park.  It had been agreed that an independent arboricultural consultant’s report would be commissioned in respect of the tree and the issue opened up for debate at Full Council.  At a meeting of the Council held on 7^th July 2016, an advisory vote had been taken and it was resolved that it be recommended to Cabinet that the sequoia tree should not be removed but should be retained as part of the refurbishment.  The Leader of the Council indicated that the long-term future of the tree and the Park in general had been considered and recommended Cabinet to agree that the sequoia tree be removed and the landscape plan as originally agreed by the National Heritage Lottery Board be continued with.  Approval of the report was not deemed a key decision.

At the discretion of the Leader of the Council,  Councillor Peter Britcliffe (Oswaldtwistle St. Andrew’s Ward Councillor) spoke on behalf of residents in favour of the tree being retained. 

Reasons for Decision

1.         In 2012 the Council’s Parks and Cemetery Service started working with Friends of Rhyddings Park to explore the possibility of applying for Parks for People funding administered via the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).  The outcome of a consultation with Friends of Rhyddings Park was that local residents wished to see various refurbishment works carried out and on 3^rd December 2013, Cabinet agreed for the Council to work towards securing Heritage Lottery funding for the Park.  In early January 2016, the Council was informed that the Council’s bid had been successful.  The refurbishment works that the funding would allow for was set out in Paragraph 3.6 of the report and revenue funding would also be made available to employ two staff to facilitate audience development and improved horticultural skills within the Park.

2.         In January 2016, a petition had been started on Facebook due to some local opposition to the removal of the sequoia tree to facilitate the landscape improvements to the Park.  Following an independent arboricultural consultant’s report the issue had been debated at Full Council which had made a recommendation to Cabinet that the tree should be retained.  The options available and the long-term future of the sequoia tree and Park in general had since been considered.

There were no alternative options for consideration or reasons for rejection.

Resolved                           (1)   That the contents of the report be noted;

                                (2)   That bearing in mind the long-term future of the sequoia tree and Park in general, the tree  ...  view the full minutes text for item 103