Council’s are responsible for potentially thousands of trees within their Borough; including trees on the streets, open spaces, parks, and woodlands as well as trees that are within the grounds of their properties.
Trees have many social, environmental, and economic benefits to an area and as such they need to be suitably maintained.
Reduce Subsidence Claims
It is in the Council’s interest to ensure trees are properly maintained to reduce subsidence claims.
If a member of public submits a subsidence claim and it is deemed to be tree related, then a claim can be made against the Council.
Using JCAD LACHS to track tree species and claims
JCAD LACHS claims handling system can be used to track all tree claims and custom fields can be used to track different tree species within your Borough. It is also possible to track if the tree is in a street or not. The ability to report on the number of claims by tree species will allow you to maintain and manage your trees within the Borough more easily. Having easy access to all your tree data will also assist with any future tree related claims.
Tree claim hot spot analysis
The tracking of tree claims in this way allows for greater hot spot analysis to be completed ensuring that problem areas and species are well maintained. It also allows for greater collaboration between the tree specialists, maintenance, and insurance teams to ensure they are all working towards common goals; reduction of claims while maintaining the benefits of the trees in the local area. With this information to hand, maintenance can be more accurately planned and will in turn save the Council more money in ensuring that any overzealous maintenance is curbed.
Council responsibility
With the information to hand they will be able to determine what measures are required for certain species and hot spot areas. It is common practice to prune the trees by 30% every 2 years, continue to monitor the effect the trees are having on the properties and as a last resort, fell the tree.
The dangers of large trees near properties on clay subsoils were so widely acknowledged and publicised that foreseeability was a hurdle easily overcome by the claimant and Council liability a forgone conclusion.
Maintaining trees responsibly
Understandably, there are also many Action Groups that also take a keen interest in the Council’s maintenance of trees. It is in the interest of the public, Council and the Action Groups to keep healthy trees and ensure that the maintenance of trees doesn’t kill them. With the more accurate tracking of trees, claims and maintenance using JCAD LACHS, the Council will be able to provide the correct level of maintenance as well as demonstrate evidence of what is necessary.
Using JCAD LACHS to assist with tree risk management will help the Council to collaborate with different Council departments, save money by focussing on maintaining trees that require the maintenance and saving costs on those that are being pruned unnecessarily. With greater insight into the claims and hot spot tracking the Council should also see a reduction in subsidence claims too.
If you require some assistance in setting up custom fields within LACHS for your tree management, please contact: phil@jcad.com
