Document Tree Audit Proposal

The Committee was advised that a budget provision had been made within the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account to undertake an audit of all trees owned by Runnymede Borough Council in the financial year 2023/24.

It was currently anticipated that the audit would take 12 months and would commence in January 2024.

It was estimated that Runnymede Borough Council owned 35,000 trees sited on communal land, in parks, open spaces, SANG sites, on amenity land and across estates etc.

The Committee were fully supportive of the audit taking place and agreed it was much needed. 

The possibility of people adopting trees becoming wardens etc could be considered after the audit had taken place.

The Committee asked Officers to share the criteria for the tree audit with them.   They were interested to establish whether carbon sequestration and biodiversity would be included in the audit.

Resolved that:

Officers be authorised to release the budget provision to undertake an audit of all trees owned by Runnymede Borough Council in the financial year 2023/24.