A debate over tree planting took place as councillors discussed improvements that are due at a council housing estate in Reading.
The Hexham Road estate was built in the 1950s and 1960s to provide council homes to hundreds of residents.
In recent years, Reading Borough Council has been engaging in a home improvement plan involving new external works and efficiency measures.
Improvements have already taken place at a number of blocks and terraces in the estate.
Two more blocks at 246 Hexham Road and 199-211 Newcastle Road are now due to get new external insulation after a project was approved at a council meeting.
The project will also involve replacing gas boilers with air source heat pumps and installing solar panels.
John Ennis (Labour, Southcote), lead councillor for climate strategy, supported the project, as it will assist in the council’s goals of improving its housing stock and drive to net zero carbon emissions by 2030.
He said: “I very much welcome this, it’s a big challenge we face, we’ve made some really good progress towards reducing our carbon emissions in the town, so much so we’re still one of the best councils in the country for doing that, even Donald Trump would say that!”
A debate was then sparked over how many new trees could be provided as part of the development.
The council’s tree officer suggested that each site could accommodate three trees.
However, a suggested condition by planning officer Nathalie Weeks stated that a minimum of two trees should be planted.
Cllr Josh Williams (Green, Park) queried whether the condition could be altered to provide a maximum of three trees.
He said: “I’d be happy to support three over two, always.”
Cllr Karen Rowland (Labour, Abbey) argued that the main issue would be to provide suitable canopy cover rather than the specific amount of trees planted.
It was therefore agreed that a minimum of two trees would be provided at each site, with as much suitable canopy cover as possible.
Cllr Kathryn McCann (Green, Redlands), who represents the area, asked where the trees would be planted.
However, cllr Jan Gavin (Labour, Caversham) clarified that the decision will be agreed by council officers.
Cllr Richard Davies (Labour, Thames) didn’t think conditioning a specific number of trees to be planted at the two locations was a good idea.
He said: “Residents want to get on with this, we all want to get on with this, we don’t want to get held up on getting a tree here and a tree there.
“The bigger picture is: let’s get on with this, it’s got great benefits, and officers will do the best they can to get the best tree cover they can.”
The upgrades were unanimously approved by the council’s planning applications committee on June 25.
The improvements will take place after councillors approved £1 million worth of external works at its housing, neighbourhoods and leisure committee meeting in March.
