Sure, in fantasy land. In reality the council made the leaseholder responsible for upkeep and maintenance and the last thing the council wants is to be contacted about the specifics of that because it comes off as an attempt to shift liability, which governments hate almost as much as uppity subjects, and any attempt to do so would likely have been met with stonewalling or some nonproductive ass-covering which would have driven up the scope and invasiveness of the tree clearing operation. Say nothing of the cost of all that communication. Maybe if there was a borderline improperly close between the government officials involved and the people working on behalf of the restaurant there could have been an off record conversation in good faith but without someone willing (because they're getting paid or otherwise) to stick their neck out the council isn't gonna say off record let alone go on record saying anything less than "get rid of anything and everything that could be a hazard" (with the judgement thereof to be performed by some party who will take on the liability).

The liability and responsibility situation is just to goddamned convoluted for any honest and reasonable exchange to happen.