Issue - meetings

Link to Appendix 4 – Topic Papers 1-12 V5

The Cabinet Member for Nature, Open Space and City Services introduced the report.

The report referred to the Urban Forest Strategy 2026-2036 (UFS). This would provide the Council’s strategic framework for protecting, managing, and growing Cambridge’s Urban Forest over the next decade.

In response to questions from Cabinet Members and those Councillors present, the Cabinet Member for Nature, Open Space and City Services and Assistant Director, Public Realm and Environment said:

    i.        The Urban Forest Strategy built on the existing Tree Strategy and projects such as Cambridge Tree Canopy Project. It strengthened data, engagement and shifted from a Council‑led approach to a whole‑city urban forest model, with measurable outcomes and ward‑level analysis.

  ii.        A new tree dashboard was being developed to support decision‑making for households, land managers, and planners.

 iii.        The strategy recognised that most canopy was on private land and needed both influence and management.

iv.        Cambridge was among the leading authorities taking this data‑led whole‑city approach.

  v.       Coleridge Ward had seen the largest canopy gains.

vi.        Priorities included sustaining progress through continued planting, protecting existing trees, and enabling more trees to reach maturity to improve street presence and shade.

vii.        The Council managed only a portion of the city’s tree canopy, with a substantial proportion of it located on private land, institutional estates, and the highway network.

viii.        The Urban Forest Strategy took a whole‑city approach, setting out how the Council would provide leadership and work collaboratively with landowners and agencies. This approach aimed to ensure decisions were coordinated, evidence‑based and defensible, recognising that the strategy was about influencing and partnering rather than assuming control of assets the Council did not own.

ix.        Held a database on canopy composition, including tree types, sizes, and overall canopy cover, as well as detailed information on land types across wards. This enabled targeted policy decisions on planting locations and volumes.

  x.       Larger gardens in the west of the city allowed for encouraging private garden planting, while in the east, with smaller gardens, planting in open or communal spaces was prioritised.

xi.        Species selection was also guided by the data to improve climate resilience, considering not only tree numbers but also types, sizes, locations, and the environmental impact they created in those spaces.

xii.        Noted that the Services, Climate and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee had reviewed the strategy, with no comments but general approval.

xiii.        Noted the following comments made by the Green Party, Opposition Leader:

·      Expressed appreciation for the prompt and thorough support provided by Officers and reiterated support for the Urban Forest Strategy.

·      Welcomed the guidance on planting and the good‑practice material on appropriate planting strategies and building near trees but noted that this information was not always reaching residents; asked what could be done to ensure people know what to plant, where to plant it, and how to report threats to trees quickly.

xiv.    The strategy set out high‑level principles, including the need of increased planting, but residents would need practical guidance on choosing the right tree for the right place.

xv.    The Council already had guidance on tree planting, locations, and species choice on its website. Officers would consider how this information could be given greater prominence. With additional resources secured through the budget‑setting process, Officers could take this forward with the Tree Team to support implementation and accelerate delivery of the strategy’s outcomes.

xvi.    Tree planting was a long‑term project, noting that today’s actions would shape the city for future generations.

xvii.    Emphasised the importance of planning for a leafy Cambridge for residents now and for children and future communities and expressed gratitude for the work being undertaken.

Cabinet unanimously resolved to:

      i.         Approve the Urban Forest Strategy 2026-2036 (v5) and the supporting Topic Papers.

    ii.         Note Scrutiny Committee’s consideration of the Strategy’s development history and consultation process (see section 6.4 of the Officer’s report).

   iii.         Endorse the proposed Delivery Framework (see Appendix 6 of the Officer’s report), Policies, Actions and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) as the basis for delivery and monitoring of the Strategy.