Agenda item

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

The Committee noted that there were eight success criteria of which five have been achieved fully and a sixth the growth of a cattle herd (funded separately), was on target. Members noted that the highlight was the successful completion of 15 arborist apprenticeships as part of the 5-year Keystone Tree programme.

Members noted that the total expenditure was £1,020,690 over 5 years, delivered within budget. The monies left over from this theme have been redistributed across other parts of the Branching Out Project, including the gateways.

Resolved – that Members noted the update and agreed to close this part of the Branching Out Project. The outstanding Keystone Tree work was to be completed as part of the legacy programme agreed with HLF and incorporated into the annual work programme. The grazing area expansion and invisible fencing was to be completed as part of the separately-funded Stewardship programme.