Attendees: In person: Andrew Kondakor, Helen McIlroy (chair) Woll Newall, Paul Selby, Wendy Hawksley, Isabel O’Leary (minutes), online Alison Teal, Mark James, Ruth Hubbard

Apologies: Sue Kondakor, Tina Sampson-Smith, Anne Barr

Minutes from previous meeting 9.3.26 agreed.

Matters arising

a) Previous attempts to contact Woodland Trust re statement by committee member about WT funded planting have not given relevant answer to question. HM plans to contact WT re future funding for tree planting, along with other sources of funding. PS will advise.
b) QR code associated with campaign plaque. Dan Whittaker (SCC officer supporting plaque group) has confirmed receipt of QR code.
PS will check QR code is in place next to Town Hall Display cabinet. Done 8.4.26.
c) Sign off accounts by Gill Adey.
WN Confirmed has been done.
d) Officer reports for AGM
WN confirmed all completed and circulated to members.

Agenda Items

1 STAG Public Facebook Group
The unauthorised admins have a deadline of 10.4.26 to respond after correspondence and their request for more time to get legal advice. Discussion re pros and cons of possible next steps if no positive response by deadline. Discussion on proposal to again explain the dilemma to members and to ask for steer. Discussion on difficulties caused to the Committee by not having administrative rights to the Public FB group with its 9K members that contains the vital and valuable archive of the tree campaign. Also discussed the unauthorised admins interference with STAG’s posts to the STAG Public Facebook Group – eg on every STAG post encouraging new members to join STAG, the unauthorised admins have added a comment that discourages people from joining and confuses potential members (this confusion has been reported to the Committee by potential members). This interference with posts by STAG has continued even after the Committee told them their comments were confusing potential members and requested they stop.

2 Sheffield Street Tree Partnership (SSTP)
Discussion on need to clarify role of STAG on SSTP and risks and responsibilities of being formal partner. Discussed potential role of STAG in helping organise Tree Wardens and whether needs SCC to pay for coordinator. Discussion on response to Nathan Edwards after his email about STAG reps report on SSTP for AGM.

Actions: HMc and IOL to write joint response to Nathan explaining need to wait until AGM for election of STAG reps to SSTP and to arrange meeting to clarify STAG role.

3 Permanent record of campaign
Much interest from campaigners with many ideas having been expressed. Needs coordination of volunteers working on various strands. Could be major project for coming year. Relatedly, WN is working on creating links between old and new websites.

Actions: AK will follow up on RH info on community archiving. HMc will give brief presentation at AGM of ideas suggested so far.

4 STAG funded Planting Project
PS has submitted 28 proposed STAG planting locations and species to Amey. Response expected within 2 months.

Discussed possibility of STAG producing ‘Guide to Street Tree Planting for Community Groups’ using expertise of STAG members. Would include guidance on choosing locations, liaison with local community, funding, choice of species.
IOL to continue looking for alternative planting locations with local agreements knowing some proposed locations may be refused. New committee to discuss whether STAG will produce the Guide as partner with SSTP.

5 Final Preparation for AGM
Agreed format:

• Officer Reports
• Update of Tree Planting Project
• Presentation on potential projects for next year (archive, possible involvement in protection of trees on private land, Guide to Community funded street tree planting)
• Results of election to committee
• Update on proposed constitution change for all member vote
• Speaker(s) from Sheffield Greenbelt Alliance

Actions: HMc will produce brief presentation on potential future projects for another c’ee member to present. HMc will check booking of room, projector and possibility of providing refreshments.

6 Communication with members

WN has sent out all papers for AGM and voting forms WN has posted re AGM on STAG Public and STAG Members FB.

Actions: WN will update with agenda. IOL will send out next newsletter after AGM, to include info about Nicola Gilbert’s joint fundraiser for Bents Green and Burngreave

7 AOB
RH has spoken to someone from Sheffield Greenbelt Alliance. Several echoes of tree campaign, and showing little learning by SCC from Lowcock Report. SGA keen for links and support from STAG.

Actions: RH to draft letter of support from STAG. RH to contact SGA re speaking at STAG AGM. Speaker subsequently agreed.

Contact from someone in S35 wanting help re developer felling trees with TPOs. Action: RH will ask for further info.

Actions: RH will look at final consultation on greenbelt and see if role for STAG in terms of trees.