Sheffield tree inquiry: council misled the public and courts in ‘dark episode for Sheffield’

Sir Mark Lowcock, chair of the inquiry, published his findings today, saying the controversial £2 billion highways programme to fell thousands of street trees and replace them with saplings was “flawed from the moment the contract was signed” between the council and Amey.

He said: “The dispute did significant harm. Thousands of healthy and much loved trees were lost. Many more could have been. Sheffield’s reputation was damaged. Public trust and confidence in the council was undermined. It has not been fully rebuilt. And people on all sides suffered anxiety, stress, injuries, wider physical and mental health problems and other harms which some continue to carry. This would have been evident to anyone who watched the Inquiry’s public hearings and was even clearer from our private discussions.”

The saga – dubbed the ‘street tree massacre’ – saw campaigners arrested and countless protests across the city.

Findings from the inquiry exposed the council for stretching the use of its authority in taking drastic action against campaigners, serious and sustained failures in leadership, and misleading an independent panel it set up to deal with the dispute, the public and the courts.

Sir Lowcock added: “The council exacerbated its problems by not explaining to the public about what it was doing. It lacked transparency and repeatedly said things that were economical with the truth, misleading and in some cases were ultimately exposed as dishonest.”

He has made three sets of recommendations which focus on: reconciliation and apologising, future risks with the remaining 14 years of the contract, and wider problems with the council that go beyond the tree dispute.

A council statement, released on behalf of Kate Josephs, chief executive, and councillor Terry Fox, leader, said: “We welcome the publication of the report and thank Sir Mark and his team for their efforts and diligence in producing a detailed, comprehensive report that will support truth and reconciliation and the continued healing of the city after this difficult and damaging period in our city’s recent past.

“We will now take some time to read and digest the findings of the report and will respond to the findings and recommendations made in due course.

T”he council has already acknowledged that it got many things wrong in the handling of the street trees dispute, and we wish to reiterate our previous apologies for our failings. We have taken huge steps already to ensure past mistakes are not repeated and we hope the release of this report will further help us to learn lessons as we move forward from the dispute.

“We are committed to doing better in the future, to ensure that we are an open, honest and collaborative organisation, as we continue our work with our partners and with the people and communities of Sheffield to create the successful, thriving and inclusive city that we all aspire to.”

The 100,000 word report – which Sir Lowcock said was longer than any of his books – can be found here: https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/your-city-council/independent-inquiry-into-street-trees-dispute