Issue - meetings

Access to nature is of vital importance for the health and well-being of residents and visitors, supporting mental and physical health.

BCP is an area of high nature value but access to green spaces is unequal, and biodiversity is generally declining across the UK and within BCP.

This report outlines the actions taken by BCP Council to comply with the Biodiversity Duty under the Environment Act 2021. It summarises our Green Infrastructure strategy framework, a report on Biodiversity net gain, our mitigation policies and delivery, green space capital improvements and countryside management.

It presents BCP’s first report on biodiversity and a summary of monitoring, reporting and our actions for delivery for nature recovery. These plans will ensure nature is considered fully, declines are reversed and that access to nature is provided. It will support the greening of our urban environment and are part of the work as foundation level Nature Towns.

RESOLVED that: -

(a)          the first BCP Biodiversity report is approved, meeting BCP’s Statutory duty under the Environment Act, including the first report on Biodiversity Net Gain; and

(b)           a high-level Green Infrastructure action plan is approved, including a BCP Urban Nature Forum and the formation of the Nature Recovery Dorset delivery group

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Climate Response, Environment and Energy

Reason

To meet statutory duty to biodiversity as set out in the 2021 Environment Act.

The Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'E' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that access to nature is of vital importance for the health and well-being of residents and visitors, supporting mental and physical health.

In relation to this Cabinet was informed that BCP was an area of high nature value but access to green spaces is unequal, and biodiversity is generally declining across the UK and within BCP.

Cabinet was advised that the report outlined the actions taken by BCP Council to comply with the Biodiversity Duty under the Environment Act 2021, and that it summarised our Green Infrastructure strategy framework, a report on Biodiversity net gain, our mitigation policies and delivery, green space capital improvements and countryside management.

Further to this Cabinet was informed that it presented BCP’s first report on biodiversity and a summary of monitoring, reporting and our actions for delivery for nature recovery, and that these plans will ensure nature is considered fully, declines are reversed and that access to nature is provided.

In addition, Cabinet was informed that it will support the greening of our urban environment and are part of the work as foundation level Nature Towns.

RESOLVED that: -

(a)          the first BCP Biodiversity report is approved, meeting BCP’s Statutory duty under the Environment Act, including the first report on Biodiversity Net Gain; and

(b)           a high-level Green Infrastructure action plan is approved, including a BCP Urban Nature Forum and the formation of the Nature Recovery Dorset delivery group

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Climate Response, Environment and Energy

Reason

To meet statutory duty to biodiversity as set out in the 2021 Environment Act.