Issue - meetings

Report of Assistant Director – Wellbeing

Purpose of report

To provide a progress update for the 2020-2022 Community Nature Plan and its approach to addressing the Council’s statutory biodiversity duty.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1          To note the 2020-2022 Community Nature Plan progress report and its approach to addressing the Council’s statutory biodiversity duty

1.2    To recognise the essential role of key partners in the delivery of the Community Nature Plan

1.2          To note that the development of the 2022-2024 Community Nature Plan (CNP) will include an all-member seminar in 2022 involving planners, as requested by O&S in December 2020. The implications of the provisions of the Environment Act will be taken into account in this next iteration of the CNP

Resolved

(1)       That the 2020-2022 Community Nature Plan progress report and its approach to addressing the Council’s statutory biodiversity be noted.

(2)       That the essential role of key partners in the delivery of the Community Nature Plan be recognised.

(3)       That it be noted that the development of the 2022-2024 Community Nature Plan (CNP) will include an all-member seminar in 2022 involving planners, as requested by Overview & Scrutiny in December 2020, and it be noted that the implications of the Environment Act will be taken into account in this next iteration of the CNP.

The Committee considered a report from the Assistant Director – Wellbeing which provided an update on the 2020 – 2022 Community Nature Plan and its approach to addressing the Council’s statutory biodiversity duty.

Introducing the report the Assistant Director – Wellbeing explained that work on the Community Nature Plan involved a number of teams across the Council including planning, environmental services and the climate action team.

The wellbeing team had launched a ‘Connect to nature initiative’ during the COVID-19 lockdowns, which gave a monthly theme for residents across the district to engage with nature. The November theme was ‘be kind’, and focussed on looking after hibernating creatures such as ladybirds and hedgehogs. 

Work would be starting during 2022 on the next iteration of the plan, and the Assistant Director – Wellbeing explained that Members would be involved in the drafting of the new plan via a workshop that would take place during Spring 2022.

The Community Nature Officer highlighted some of the partnership working with external organisations, including the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust, Wild Oxfordshire and Warriner School Farm.

In response to questions from the Committee the Community Nature Officer explained that the online activity hub gave details of all nature related activities taking place, and a flyer had also been produced to help publicise the sessions. The Community Nature Officer agreed to circulate details of the online hub and flyer after the meeting.

The Community Nature Officer also agreed to gather detailed information on hedgehog numbers in the district for circulation to the Committee after the meeting. 

Resolved

(1)       That the 2020-2022 Community Nature Plan progress report and its approach to addressing the Council’s statutory biodiversity be noted.

(2)       That the essential role of key partners in the delivery of the Community Nature Plan be recognised.

(3)       That it be noted that the development of the 2022-2024 Community Nature Plan (CNP) will include an all-member seminar in 2022 involving planners, as requested by Overview & Scrutiny in December 2020, and it be noted that the implications of the Environment Act will be taken into account in this next iteration of the CNP.