Request ID: FOI-3452-2223 Date published: 18 April 2023
You asked
F/on from FOI-3161
Thank you for your reply. The information I have requested is extremely important, as it is highly relevant to damages caused to my property. Nevertheless, I have noted your concerns below, so am prepared to have my request significantly narrowed down the most recent two inspections only. Therefore, please can you provide me the following;
• Lastest inspection: I believe that the last inspection of the Norway Maple in question was caried out on 3 March 2022. With respect to this inspection, please can I request the following;
o Confirmation from you that an inspection was indeed carried out on that date, and that if so, confirm it was the last inspection that occured
o Provide me with the inspection report from the inspection
o Provide me with the inspector's relevant qualifications
• Inspection prior to last: Please provide me with the date of the inspection prior to the latest one mentioned above. As with the above inspection, please furnish me with;
o A copy of the inspection report/conclusions
o The relevant qualifications of the inspecting officer
Finally, if you could also provide me with a copy of TFLs internal documentation with regards to its Tree Management Strategy, I would be very grateful.
This is now a significantly reduced and highly focused request, so I hope to receive the information as a matter of urgency given the time that has already passed since my original request on 24 February 2023.
We answered
Our ref: FOI-3452-2223/GH
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 20 March 2023 asking for information about a tree inspections on Barnet Way.
Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold some of the information you require.
The tree’s (asset id 200000099281) last inspection was on 19 February 2023. This is an annual defect survey that will only record the tree if and when there is a defect found. If the tree is in good health there may not be any data entry recorded for an inspection. No defects were found during this inspection so we do not hold an inspection report. The inspection prior to this was carried out on 3 March 2022, and again no inspection report is held.
Every 5 years a full condition survey is undertaken when the tree data is fully re-entered. This was last carried out on the 6 June 2019, and is therefore due to take place again in 2024.
There is no specific tree management strategy but there are various documents which provide the detail TfL’s approach. The most recent strategy document to reference trees would be the TfL Corporate Environment Plan. This can be located via this link: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/sustainability
This is loosely based on the Mayor’s Transport Strategy and London Environment Plan which set out the following in regards to trees;
Mayors London Environmental Strategy May 2018 - The Mayor wants to increase tree canopy by ten per cent by 2050, as well as protecting the existing resource the rate of tree planting must be increased
Mayors Transport Strategy March 2018 Proposal 43. The Mayor, through TfL and the boroughs, will retain existing trees and plant new ones on the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN) and borough roads to protect tree canopy cover. Street tree numbers on the TLRN will be increased by 1 per cent every year between 2016 and 2025
Policy 8 - The Mayor, through TfL and the boroughs, and working with stakeholders, will enhance London’s natural and built environment by ensuring that transport schemes protect existing green infrastructure where possible, or – if there is a loss – providing new green infrastructure in order to deliver a net gain in biodiversity.
I’ve also attached a copy of the Green Estate management Plan. This document has been due for review for some time now but details how we are managing trees and other green estate assets within the highway. Everyone who is responsible for managing trees within the highway should have a copy of this and continue to adhere to the policies this sets out until the document is updated or superseded.
The qualifications/requirements for anyone asked to inspect/survey trees are set out within the HMPF contract so are available to all Asset Operations Managers, this states:
All Surveyors shall have arboricultural experience and be approved by the Client in writing in advance of the survey. Abbreviated curriculum vitae shall be supplied to the Client and all Surveyors shall have:
a) professional tree inspection qualification (LANTRA Awards); b) minimum NQF Level 3 arboricultural qualification; and c) recent appropriate experience in carrying out tree surveys and inspections.
This information is reviewed/assured by a Senior Arboricultural & Landscape Specialist (TfL’s own specialists) before any surveyor begins working within the TLRN.
The qualifications held by a specific inspector is considered personal information, and therefore is exempt from disclosure in accordance with TfL’s obligations under Data Protection legislation and as required by section 40(2) of the FOI Act. This is because disclosure of this personal data would be a breach of the legislation, specifically the first principle which requires all processing of personal data to be fair and lawful. It would not be fair to disclose this personal information when the individuals have no expectation it would be disclosed and TfL has not satisfied one of the conditions which would make the processing ‘fair’.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Graham Hurt FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
