Tree Inspection & Maintenance of Highway Trees Al Smith Corporate Services Manager L.B.Camden

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Relevant Organisations for Information The Council’s Tree officer Arboricultural Association: Arboricultural Advisory Information Service: London Tree Officer’s Association (LTOA):

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