Tree inspection process

The purpose of remedial action for tree-related hazards is to remove or mitigate them, so that there will no longer be an unacceptable risk of damage or personal injury.

Although, by definition, remedial action is concerned with hazards that already exist, it should also be part of a programme of continuing management, which allows for the possible recurrence of hazards or the development of new ones. For example, re-growth of pollard trees, or tree removal that leads to increased exposure of remaining specimens. A competent person must prescribe the appropriate remedial action, and the necessary level of competence is defined in the section 'Identification of hazards and intervention/response times' and below under the title 'Competent persons - the necessary level of competence'.

1. Appropriate remedial action could include the following:
2. Tree surgery
3. Tree removal
4. Moving the target (low-value furniture such as a bench)
5. Bracing and propping
6. Fencing off area

Current good practice in veteran tree management accepts that by identifying hazards that pose significant levels of risk and managing that risk (not necessarily by remedial action to the tree) public safety can be maintained without the loss of trees with conservation, cultural, landscape and habitat value or legal protection. This document therefore adopts a bias towards using alternative methods of risk management wherever possible.

In high-risk areas, trees that show obvious signs of imminent collapse or are otherwise seriously hazardous should be dealt with immediately.

Reigate & Banstead Borough Council aims to manage borough-owned trees in a proactive where reasonable to do so. Proactive management will include the following:

1. Correct planting, species selection and positioning of trees
2. Formative pruning (pruning of young trees to establish a strong structure and encourage straighter and taller trees)
3. Identification and removal of future hazard trees.

Appropriate management of more vulnerable species e.g. Ulmus procera (English Elm) and Dutch Elm Disease.

Competent persons - the necessary level of competence

A competent person is someone who has the technical expertise, up-to-date training, and experience to carry out the appropriate element of the tree inspection. If further investigation is warranted, it will be escalated to a professional tree inspector.

This person would normally be the Tree and Woodlands Officers but could be an external consultant. Contractors and consultants will be selected from those listed in the directory of approved contractors published by the Arboricultural Association (A.A.) (trees.org.uk). Arboricultural consultants who are undertaking initial hazard assessment, or persons recommending remedial work, must have suitable experience within the arboricultural industry as well as appropriate qualifications such as the Professional Tree Inspection Certification, National Diploma in Arboriculture, Arboricultural Association Technicians Certificate or Professional Diploma in Arboriculture.

Keeping records

Records of inspections, tree surgery and other remedial works will be recorded either on MyTrees system where appropriate or an Excel Spreadsheet, as this will assist in demonstrating that the borough is complying with its legal obligations with regards to tree safety. As with all health and safety issues, in the event of an incident the borough may be required to demonstrate that it acted in relation to that risk.

This Inspection Process Document is in itself an important element of the borough’s tree safety strategy. It contains the degree of detail required to ensure the reasonable safety of others by understanding the risks posed by the trees on borough land and detailing how the borough intends to manage them