Glasgow needs “serious money” to cover 20 per cent of the city with trees – up from the current 18 per cent, a meeting heard.

Councillor Stephen Docherty, Labour, made the comment as a committee heard there was no dedicated budget for the plan dubbed the draft forestry and woodland strategy.

A major goal is to plant more trees with particular focus on certain areas including Bridgeton, Dalmarnock and Govan. The aim is to have tree canopy of 20 per cent in the city – a two per cent increase on the existing leafy coverage.

Councillor Docherty asked what money is available is for the strategy with an official replying: “We currently have no budget for the forest and woodland strategy.”

She told the committee meeting funding will come from individual parts of the council as well as private developers.

Describing the situation as “disappointing”, councillor Docherty, Labour, said: “If we don’t have money we are kidding ourselves on. It is not going to happen” adding that “serious money” is  needed.

Speaking at the net zero and climate progress monitoring city policy committee yesterday, he added: “I’m all for what you are doing but we need money.”

Council wards with the lowest number of trees are Govan and Anderston, City and Yorkhill with less than 10 per cent of the neighbourhoods having a leafy canopy.

Meanwhile the Linn ward is the highest in the city boasting 31 per cent tree cover with Newlands and Auldburn coming in second at 29 per cent for leafiness.

Responding to councillor Docherty’s concerns over having enough money available for trees another official said: “The points you make are well understood by the officers. I think the action plan being developed will cost the actions and seek where the funding will come from.

“Although there isn’t a budget sitting in the council, activities are underway to identify the funding and that is what we will come back with.”

SNP Councillor Angus Millar said there are a lot of linkages between the new strategy and the council’s existing tree plan.

He said: “There are existing budgets within the council to deliver tree planting activity which is already taking place at considerable pace.”

He said there is “already a fairly robust programme of tree planting” which is overseen by the tree plan although it is accepted there is a need to accelerate that.

As well as increasing tree coverage by 2034 the draft forestry and woodland strategy vision also includes addressing the impact of disease on Ash trees, increasing people’s access to woodlands and protecting them more through the planning process.

A consultation is to be launched on the strategy for the council to gather feedback.