Tree Inspection & Maintenance of Highway Trees

1. Tree Inspection & Maintenance of Highway Trees Al SmithCorporate Services ManagerL.B.Camden

4. Responsibility & Legislation • Duty of Care • Highways Act 1980 General responsibility to maintain the highway in a safe condition Section 154 – Issue a ‘notice’ to cut back vegetation overhanging the highway & Remove part or all of a tree that is likely to cause danger by falling onto the highway

5. An Audit Trail For Inspection, Maintenance & Monitoring • Hard copy records • Basic IT packages- Excel spreadsheets or an Access database • Computerised Tree Management systems: – Confirm Arboriculture – Ezytreev – ArborTrack

6. A Management System For Inspection, Maintenance & Monitoring • Determine cycle of inspection: - Annual, Biennial, three to five years • Determine cycle of Maintenance:- Annual, Biennial, three to five years • A defendable system

7. Appropriate Qualifications/Experience for Officers & Contractors • Highway officers – ‘LANTRA’ one day Tree Inspection course (attendees receive certificate of attendance) • Tree officers – National Certificate in Arboricultureto Degree level • Monitor the Council’s tree contractor/s -qualification/experience

8. Private Trees in Falling Distance of the Highway • Section 154, Highways Act:Inspection of private trees that are within falling distance of the highway – systematic and auditable system

10. Monitoring System • Ensure a monitoring system is in place for signing off work once completed.

11. Resources Sufficient resources in place for a responsible and defendable system:- Adequate number of officers- Auditable management system- Adequate budget for tree Maintenance- Suitable monitoring system

12. Relevant Organisations for Information • The Council’s Tree officer • Arboricultural Association:01794 368 717 • Arboricultural Advisory Information Service:09065 161 147 • London Tree Officer’s Association (LTOA):0777 1976 238

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