The Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities met on 1 September 2025 to discuss a petition regarding tree planting at Lake View Park and to review the minutes of the previous meeting. Councillor Abdul Salam Khan, Cabinet Member, approved retaining the trees at Lake View Park, and requested improved notification methods for future planting projects.

Petition to Save the View of Lake View Park

A petition, signed by 55 local residents of Lake View Road, was submitted to the council, raising concerns about a loss of views of Lake View Park due to recently planted trees. The residents requested greater consultation on the location and number of new trees planted at the park. Councillor Jackie Gardiner, a Sherbourne Ward Councillor, sponsored the petition and was invited to the meeting along with the Petition Organiser.

The new trees were funded by the government's Urban Tree Challenge Fund, which allowed the council to plant 36 semi-mature trees in the park. The council's Parks Service and Urban Forestry teams determined that the open northern side of the park was the best location for the trees, as they would provide shading for a future path. However, due to resourcing problems, the Urban Forestry team did not notify local residents of the changes, which they usually do for similar projects.

The report outlined two options:

1. Remove all trees to restore the view of the park.
2. Retain the trees as they are planted and manage them to maximise the future benefits, while also improving the method of notification for future planting projects.

The report recommended the second option, stating that removing the trees should be rejected because of the value the trees will provide in shading, amenity and ecosystem services for the benefit of all who live in Coventry, and that the city is known as one of the most green deprived cities in the UK . The report also noted that there is no legal right to a view with regard to trees.

The report noted that notification letters were sent to residents once the Urban Forestry Team realised that this location had been overlooked, but the letters were received at the same time as the trees were being planted. The report stated that changes within the Parks & Openspaces team have already provided resources to allow all future tree planting projects to be consulted with local residents appropriately.

Councillor Abdul Salam Khan, Cabinet Member, approved the following recommendations:

1. Noted the concerns raised in the petition.
2. Approved the retention of the trees as they have been planted, noting that the council will manage the trees to maximise the future benefits that they can provide.
3. Requested that officers improve the method of notification to ensure that all future planting projects are known to all local residents in advance of planting works.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

The minutes of the Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities meeting held on 28 July 2025 were agreed upon. During that meeting, the Cabinet Member:

• Approved a consultation on the draft revised Statement of Licensing Policy 2026-2031. The policy is required to be reviewed every five years under the Licensing Act 2003. The consultation began on 12 August 2025 and will run for eight weeks, ending on 7 October 2025.
• Approved the Annual Compliance Report 2024 - Regulatory & Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) as a formal record of the Council's use and compliance with RIPA¹. The Cabinet Member also noted the comments made by the Audit and Procurement Committee.