That:
1) Officers be given approval to begin phase 1 of the project, including the recruitment of a project manager, completion of a feasibility study and tree strategy, and start-up of the small woodland planting and community garden planting initiative;
2) £350,000 of capital borrowing be approved to fund the first phase of the project. The £350,000 requested will ultimately be funded as part of the invest to save scheme for the overall capital project (preliminary calculations show these costs can be comfortably accommodated);
3) It be noted that the estimated pay back of the full cost of the scheme is likely to be within 4 years of project completion, with an annual surplus thereafter to be confirmed with updated business case;
4) It be noted that a further report, including a full Business Case and additional funding requirements, will be presented to the Executive for approval early next year.