Agenda item

Motions

The following Motion has been received from the Green Group in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 14.1 and 14.2, the detail of which is set out below:

 

Introduction

In the face of the internationally recognised Biodiversity Crisis, part of our work on Climate Change must be to protect and enhance the natural habitats in the district.  The UK is one of the more nature depleted countries in the world, with more than half of our species in decline.  The rate of species extinction, caused by climate change and human activity, is alarming.  Despite efforts to date, this continues. The Government’s Environment Bill, currently going through Parliament, proposes a Nature Recovery Strategy, together with funding for local authorities who bring in extra measures to protect and enhance bio-diversity.  This motion will put Arun in a good position to start work straightaway. 

Our Local Plan says the right things about protecting our landscapes and habitat, but caveats mean that currently we see too many examples of this advice being overridden. Too often we see a wildlife site marooned, surrounded by developments.  Locally we face a worrying decline of bee species, butterflies, dormice and hedgehogs as habitat is lost.   Many species of bat are found in Arun, and water voles are living precariously in pockets of stream land habitat.  Bird populations will suffer as feeding grounds are developed, for example, Brent Geese at Pagham and Lapwing at the Saltbox Field. In the area, we have rare chalk streams, a river valley and a floodplain, Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on our beautiful but fragile coastline and traditional farmland.  We are under pressure to build on some of these areas we have and surround them by urban development.  It is time we admitted that unless we act to protect our wildlife and its habitats by putting them first in every case, we will cause irreversible damage to our District and wildlife we share it with.

 

Motion

The Council declared a Climate Emergency at Full Council in January 2020.  Whilst welcoming much good ecological work that is ongoing, such as tree planting and the planned creation of Green Infrastructure, the Council will review and update the bio-diversity process within the Local Plan, concentrating on Policies DM4 and DM5 and bringing together existing action and new targets to create a Bio-Diversity Action Plan 2020-2025.

 

To include:

·         A local Nature Reserve site map, showing existing wildlife areas, parks, green spaces, woods and marine protected and other areas such as churchyards and school fields, to inform new development and ensure habitat is joined up.

·         Reviewing recognised and potential wildlife corridors and areas of protection and looking at ways of joining them to provide wider foraging areas.

·         Supplementary Planning Documents covering new guidelines for developers on including wild areas and ‘pocket parks’ as part of planting as well as ensuring the areas are maintained.  With such high levels of building, these areas will ensure stepping stones of bio-diversity across the District.

·         Ensuring the increased planting of wild areas in Council owned parks and properties

·         Including information for the public about the purpose and importance of wilding

·         Managing invasive species

·         Promoting opportunities for community engagement for activities such as tree planting and the creation of wildflower areas as well as looking after such spaces

·         Launching a public awareness campaign to encourage and promote wildlife-friendly gardening in the District, including pesticide awareness

·         Setting a target for the Council to phase out the use of glyphosates and to join the growing number of Councils that are pesticide free

·         Commissioning a report into watercourses and aquifers in the District and strengthening measures to prevent pollution caused by chemicals that leach into the soil and water from farming and run off