2.3 Community Engagement
2.3.1 Volunteering, Corporate Wellbeing and Planting Programmes
Volunteering in your local area is a brilliant way to give back to your community, meet new people, and enjoy the beautiful natural environment on your doorstep. In line with the Council’s ‘Valuing Volunteers Guidance 2021’, services across Green Spaces offer a number of activities for residents to volunteer in their local community.
With regards to trees and woodland opportunities could include:
- Becoming a Tree Warden by ‘adopting’ a tree or group of trees in your local area and supporting the Tree Service to undertake regular tree surveys, document the local wildlife and respond to any changes in the health of those trees.
- Join a Woodland Management Group and take part in regular environmental days including litter picks, tree surveys and tree planting
- Sign up your school for a planting day in your local area, helping to either plant new trees or care for and maintain existing trees in your local area
- Book a Corporate Wellbeing Day with our teams, which including tree planting, environmental management and caring for natural habitats
The above activities are supported and organised by qualified professionals across Council owned trees and properties. We ask that anyone interested in volunteering opportunities contact the Council in the first instance and do not undertake projects on Council owned land or property without Council permission.
To find out more about these opportunities or join a local club visit: www.rotherham.gov.uk/treesandwoodlands
2.3.2 Common Issues & Enquiries
The Council’s Tree Service receives in excess of 1,500 enquiries and service requests relating to trees each year. Unfortunately, the service is not able to undertake site visits for each request and often many of the requests raise common issues relating to managing the impact of trees in urban environments. A list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and suggested advice for how to reduce issues and common enquiries related to trees can be found at Appendix 4.
2.3.3 Service Requests & Conflict Resolution
The Council aims to support a speedy and amicable resolution to service requests but accepts that trees can be an emotive subject for many, and this may not always be possible. This area of the guidance details how service requests are managed and conflicts will be resolved should they arise.
Stage 1: Service request received
- Desk based assessment of issues based on database – guidance leaflet and advice for resident issued where no danger posed.
- Site visit and further investigation where records show a potential issue.
Stage 2: Request returned for further discussion
- The resident may not be satisfied and requests a site visit or a site visit at Stage 1 has revealed concerns
- Site visit and discussion with residents and third-party advisors (tree officers, housing, highways, social services where appropriate) recommends a course of action.
- If the action is within the guidelines it is added to schedule of works based on its level of urgency and individual risk assessment
- If the action is outside of the guidelines recommendation will be made to the appropriate Head of Service for approval
- Outcome communicated to resident, Ward Members and portfolio holder
Stage 3: Issue is unresolved
- Resident remains dissatisfied with the outcome of the investigations and mediation is required
- Case is referred to portfolio holder for final decision in consultation with Ward Members
Stage 4: Referral to Council Complaints Service
- Resident remains dissatisfied with the outcome of the final decision and is directed to Council’s Complaints Service
2.3.4 Member Casework
The Tree Service will support Ward Members to respond to casework and resolve issues using the above process. On occasion a resolution to conflict may be sought through ward budgets, where those works are still within this guidance.
Where the works identified are classified as Red (see section 2.2.3 Prioritisation of Tree Works) the service will meet the cost of these works. Where works are classified as Amber or Green and members wish to expedite this work the costs will be met from ward budgets.
