Watchdog 'satisfied' with Sheffield Council's response to damning tree-felling report

A watchdog has declared itself satisfied with Sheffield Council’s response to a damning report which found it had misled the people of the city over its strategy for felling thousands of street trees.

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman had given the council three months to respond to its recommendations from an investigation published in October which found the authority had misrepresented expert advice and acted at times with a “lack of honesty” during the city’s years-long tree-felling saga.

One of the key findings of the Ombudsman’s report was that the council had incorrectly told people its contractor Amey would consider 14 potential solutions to save trees before making removals when this was not the actual policy.

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However, it added that the council was now working in a “far more open and transparent way” on the issue, having engaged in mediated talks with campaigners that led to a new approach being introduced in 2019.

Tree-felling work on Rustlings Road was at the centre of the Ombudsman's report.Tree-felling work on Rustlings Road was at the centre of the Ombudsman's report.
Tree-felling work on Rustlings Road was at the centre of the Ombudsman's report.

The Ombudsman has now confirmed it is satisfied with the council’s response to recommendations made in the 25-page report, which the local authority accepted in full when it was published.

The recommendations had included making an unreserved public apology, sharing details of how it would act more transparently in regard to its future tree strategy and considering how it can be more open and transparent across all of its services.

Councillor Mark Jones, cabinet member for environment, streetscene and climate change at Sheffield City Council, said today the ruling was a “very welcome outcome”.

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“We accepted the findings of the report and recognised that our approach needed to change,” he said.

The council's tree-felling policy sparked mass protests.The council's tree-felling policy sparked mass protests.
The council's tree-felling policy sparked mass protests.

"Now we look forward to working with residents and stakeholders to deliver a future-proof strategy for the city's street trees and building on this new position by increasing inclusive discussions with all our citizens.”

But Paul Selby, from the Sheffield Trees Action Groups, said he feels that despite the ruling of the Ombudsman many unanswered questions remain about the conduct of the council during the saga and an independent inquiry is still needed.

The Ombudsman’s investigation was sparked by a complaint by member of the public Alan Robshaw relating to the controversial removal of eight trees on Rustlings Road, Sheffield, in November 2016.

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The removal, which involved council contractors accompanied by police officers arriving on the street at 5am, came despite the authority’s Independent Tree Panel recommending only one tree for removal.

At the height of the row in early 2018, dozens of police officers were called out each day to support felling operations.At the height of the row in early 2018, dozens of police officers were called out each day to support felling operations.
At the height of the row in early 2018, dozens of police officers were called out each day to support felling operations.

Thousands of trees were removed and replaced with saplings under the council’s £2bn, 25-year Streets Ahead highways improvement contract with Amey which started in 2012.

Felling work was paused in spring 2018 as growing protests against the work attracted international condemnation when dozens of police officers and private security guards were sent to support the operations and multiple arrests were made.

The council also made attempts in court - in legal action that was “positively agreed” by then-leader Julie Dore - to have a number of demonstrators jailed for breaching a protest injunction, with two given suspended jail sentences.

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A new policy has since been introduced following lengthy talks with campaigners and hundreds of previously at-risk trees have now been saved from the axe.

Coun Jones said a new long-term strategy designed to sustainably and carefully manage street trees in accordance with best practice is in the process of being finalised.

“The new shared vision, which we revealed last March, focuses on six outcomes that ensure Sheffield's street trees are well maintained and sustained now and for the future. We consulted with the public last summer and will use that feedback to finalise the strategy in the coming weeks."

Mr Selby said: “I, and all street tree campaigners, are delighted with Sheffield Council’s future approach to street trees, as set out in the Sheffield Street Tree Strategy, drafted jointly with campaigners and independent experts. The council officers we are working with are brilliant and some of the best in the council.

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“However, they cannot airbrush away what happened in the past. There is no evidence that the council has learned any real lessons from what occurred. Freedom of Information questions asked in the autumn revealed that no Lessons Learned Review has been held.

“Campaigners were taken to court for peacefully protesting. The council spent nearly £2 million pounds in court costs and contract delays, felling around £55 million of their own street tree assets unnecessarily, simply to meet contract obligations to have perfectly straight kerb lines.

“I am a public servant myself, working for central government. If my own department behaved like Sheffield Council behaved between 2015 and 2018, there would have been a public inquiry called at the behest of the National Audit Office. I remain ashamed of my own local council who have done nothing to truly address the concerns set out in the LGO report.”

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