“There was substantial harm caused to people who campaigned against the Streets Ahead programme”

I was surprised to find this apology in my inbox this morning. It is good that the City Council have moved on, and now has a much more satisfactory tree policy. I really hope they have learned the lessons from the Lowcock Report. For those not familiar with what happened in the tree dispute, do make time to watch The Felling.

Some of the protagonists of the dispute are still Councillors. They really should have resigned long ago. But it is clear they now have little influence in the Labour Party. So I am accepting this apology but will continue to hold the Council to account at every opportunity!

30/9/23

Following my post yesterday I would like to make it clear that my accepting this apology does not mean I consider this is the end of the road. There are still injustices that need to be put right. Those who were arrested and fined should be compensated and their criminal records annulled. And any officials who lied in court should be made to face up to their wrongdoing.

29^th September 2023                                                                                   Via email

Dear Mr Wroe

My name is James Henderson and I am Sheffield City Council’s Director of Policy and Democratic Engagement.  You wrote to us, via Rich Ward, asking for an apology for your experiences during the street tree dispute.  I’m sorry it has taken longer than I would have wanted to provide that apology.

Following the publication of Sir Mark Lowcock’s report, the City Council has made a public apology to everyone in the city for its handling of the street tree dispute.  That apology is available here: Street Trees Dispute Public Apology

The impact of the street trees dispute on the city and on individual campaigners such as yourself was significant and unwarranted.  As Sir Mark set out in his report, there was substantial harm caused to people who campaigned against the Streets Ahead programme during the time in question.

On behalf of Sheffield City Council, I am deeply sorry for the personal time and energy that you spent both as chair of Save Norfolk Park Trees and as a STAG committee member campaigning against a set of decisions made by Sheffield City Council to remove healthy street trees.  I am also sorry for the stress and pressure that the dispute caused for you.  I would like to reiterate the words in the council’s public apology:

Protesters and campaigners were maligned, injured and experienced physical, emotional, and for some financial, stress. The action the Council took damaged Sheffield’s reputation in a way that casts a long shadow.

The impacts and repercussions of the street trees dispute for the city, our environment and for the people involved in campaigning against the decisions are significant.  It will take time and concerted effort to recover from the dispute and, for some, it may prove impossible to regain the trust that has been lost.  For all of that, the council is very sorry.

We are learning lessons from what happened during the dispute.  The value of listening properly to people with different views and perspectives, not falling prey to groupthink, and ensuring proper strategic leadership of significant programmes like Streets Ahead have all been heard loudly within the organisation. Members and officers of the council are determined to learn and implement these lessons, and in so-doing restore some of the trust that has been lost with the communities of the city.

I hope that this apology addresses the issues that you raised and goes some small way towards repairing your trust in the Council.

Yours sincerely

James Henderson

Director of Policy & Democratic Engagement