Belfast City Council – Provision of Arboriculture Services

Clive Richardson Limited were appointed by Belfast City Council in October 2019 to provide arboriculture services throughout the Council’s geographical area including Council managed Parks, Cemeteries, Playing Fields and Open Spaces. The Contract also covers tree surgery operations on street trees in the care of the Council, on behalf of the Department of Infrastructure NI, and on Park trees. CRL on behalf of the Council provides overall responsibility for the management of 11,500 street trees and 60,000+ park trees.

Following a competitive tender process the contract was re-awarded to CRL in April 2021 for a further three year period.

Tasks undertaken with this contract include but are not limited to dead-wooding, crown lifting, crown thinning, crown reduction and reshaping, complete pruning, topping/lopping and pollarding, removal of epicormic shoots, root pruning, branch/limb hanger removal, felling (sectional and ) and removal, chip out stumps, grub out stumps, treat stumps, hedge cutting, removal and cutting of ivy, tree inspection, wound treatment, Christmas tree installation and removal and supply of a range of bark mulch materials. Tasks are a mixture of scheduled/planned, unscheduled and emergency works and can take place in a wide variety of locations throughout the area including on busy roads, on the banks of the river lagan and overhanging private residences.

CRL work in partnership with BCC and their representatives to ensure that all outbreaks of diseases such as Sudden Oak Death, Ash Dieback, Fire blight and pests such as Lime Mite, Nut Scale and the Asian Longhorn beetle are correctly reported and suitable actions plans developed collaboratively.

CRL are also responsible for undertaking and writing up detailed health and condition surveys, recommending tree protection measures within development sites and have the ability, expertise and experience to represent the Council as an expert witness in Planning Appeals and Public enquiries.

CRL have a responsibility under this contract for a wide variety of HSEQ matters including the reporting of nesting birds or other flora and fauna of note which are offered protected status, the planning and implementation of appropriate Traffic Management Plans, LOLER, RAMSAR (Belfast Lough) and risk management plans. CRL are also responsible for notifying the Council’s Planning Service regarding Tree Preservation Orders, Conservation Areas or Planning Legislation relevant to the various sites.

CRL’s performance in this contract is closely monitored and measured against three key KPI’s by BCC. As part of CRL’s contractual obligations, monthly reports are submitted to BCC detailing operational performance against these KPI’s. These KPI’s are:

• KPI 1 Delivery of a high quality service. This is measured in reports through audit and spot checks carried out on work undertaken. Works are graded against stringent standards. CRL are expected to achieve in excess of 94% of works to A or B standards.
• KPI 2 Maintain H&S Standards. Achieved through the preparation of suitable RAMS, Traffic Management Plans and Point of work Risk Assessments. Operational practices are in place to ensure that every scenario is planned for and mitigated against. CRL are contractually obliged to notify BCC representatives immediately of all incidents and accidents and report these in the monthly reports.
• KPI 3 Delivery of services to contractual timescales. The contract clearly defines the timescales in which particular types of work have to be delivered. These include a mixture of scheduled, reactionary and emergency tasks. We are measured against respond times with an expectation for greater than 90% of ordinary works tasks delivered in agreed timescales and 100% of emergency works.

Additionally CRL set a number of contract specific KPI’s to ensure enhanced standards in operational delivery. These include environmental standards which are a long term company goal. KPI’s work to focus CRL in the operational delivery of the contract and offer mutually beneficial rewards to BCC and CRL. We are delighted that we continue to meet and achieve KPI targets on a monthly basis.