Agenda item

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Open Spaces which provided Members with an urgent update on the challenges being faced due to the spread of Oak Processionary Moth (OPM) across the Open Spaces in the care of The City of London. The Director of Open Spaces noted that the OPM treatment had cost £100,000 in 2018 and was estimated to cost in the region of £200,000 this year and is likely to increase further. In addition, he explained that the OPM was already present at the Ashtead and Epping Forest but was expected to be an ongoing issue at many of the City of London Corporation’s Open Spaces.

A Member of the Committee asked the Director of Open Spaces for clarification on the effectiveness of the treatment of the OPM which the department was undertaking at Epping Forest. The Director of Open Spaces outlined the treatment programme for the OPM including the removal of the moth’s nests but explained these measures were designed to limit exposure to the public and would not be able to eradicate the OPM moth from the Forest. Further the Director of Open Spaces informed the Committee that the issue of OPM was likely to have a continued presence in the Epping Forest and that public education was going to be an important part of the program. A Member noted the Statutory Plant Health Notices mentioned in paragraph 13 of the Report and asked whether the required action of the City of London Corporation would be noted in the budgetary requirement of the Open Spaces Department. The Director of Open Spaces explained that discussions had taken place, and were ongoing, with the Forestry Commission and it is possible that Statutory Plant Health Notices might not be used if the once the species becomes endemic.

A Member stated that public health was a key issue and questioned whether a there was a natural remedy which could be utilised to mitigate OPM. Replying to this question the Director of Open Spaces explained that there was a species of fly which parasitized OPM caterpillars which would help to limit numbers of the OPM and potentially reach a natural balance. The financial aspects of the OPM control programme in future years are being reported to Resource Allocation Sub Committee as part of the medium-term financial planning process.

RESOLVED- that the report be noted.