Minutes:
The Committee considered a report of the Director of
Environment and Transport which sought its views on the Action for Nature,
Strategic Approach to Biodiversity, Habitat and the Local Environment and
Delivery Plan. A copy of the report marked ‘Agenda Item 10’ is filed with these
minutes.
Arising from the
discussion the following points arose:-
i.
The
Committee recognised the importance of the document, however questioned the
impact of proposed warehousing and logistics development across the county. The
Director assured Members that the approach would allow further weight to be
given by the County Council to environmental considerations as part of its
comments on planning applications to district authorities.
ii.
The
Lead Member informed the Committee that while the National Planning Policy
Framework (NPPF) included some environmental considerations it was not as
strong as it could be. Through discussions with UK100 he was aware of the
intention to work with Government to strengthen protection provisions within
the framework and to ensure they had enough weight versus other material
planning considerations.
iii.
It was
further questioned whether the report was at dissonance with the County
Council’s Major Roads Programme which invariably had a cost to the environment,
such as the 20 mature trees that were felled as part of the widening of the
A512.
iv.
A Member
suggested further consideration be given to the inclusion of lagging indicators
to indicate past performance to allow scrutiny of the baseline compared to
improvement. Officers welcomed such suggestions and informed Members that the
Department was open to discussions on the indicators as the Action Plan was a
live document and expected to evolve over time.
v.
Members
were pleased to discuss their own community experiences regarding wildlife
verges and the Council’s Blue Heart campaign. It was felt such measures were a
low-cost solution which looked great, was beneficial to the environment and
supported by communities. However, it was pointed out that while communities
seemed to embrace the wildlife verges residents often preferred their own lawns
be kept closely maintained.
vi.
The
Committee supported the work undertaken by the ‘Wombles’ in litter picking
across the county and the benefits it held for biodiversity. In response to a
query asking what further actions the Council could take to support them, the
Director informed Members that litter picking was a district function and would
involve partnership work with the districts if the Authority wished to further
its support to the groups.
vii. The districts and other relevant
organisations had been consulted as part of the consultation process, as it was
recognised that not one organisation alone was in control or could deliver on
the key aims to improve biodiversity, habitat and the local environment across
Leicestershire.
viii. In relation to tree planting it was queried
whether any proposals had been considered regarding expansion of the boundary
of the National Forest to deeper within the County as had previously been
discussed as part of the Tree Management Strategy. Members were assured that
once the plan to plant 700,000 trees in Leicestershire was further developed a
report would be brought to the relevant scrutiny committee.
Mr Pain, Lead
Member for Environment and the Green Agenda, thanked the Committee for their
positive contributions and feedback on the report. Members were reminded that
this report was only one component of the Council’s wider Environment Strategy
and its Climate Emergency Declaration. It was recognised that the Authority had
hugely challenging targets to reach such as net zero by 2030, however, it was
hoped that the identified practical measures would keep the Authority on track
to improve factors within its control, and influence factors outside of its
remit.
RESOLVED:
That the Action for
Nature – Strategic Approach to Biodiversity, Habitat and the Local Environment
and Delivery Plan be supported.
Supporting documents: