Agenda item

      i.         To consider the following Motion to be proposed by Councillor Kelsie Learney.

Motion on the nature emergency

We are in the middle of a nature crisis. Almost half of all UK wildlife is in long term decline and 15% of species are at risk of extinction. The climate emergency is only hastening this destruction of the natural environment, damaging habitats and disrupting ecosystems. Yet it is these very habitats that have the potential to lock up carbon and fight back against rising global temperatures. It is essential that we not only protect these spaces, but let them thrive – for the benefit of people, planet and nature.

As we recover from the COVID-19 crisis, the need for nature-rich green spaces where we live and work is clearer than ever and will help health, education and the economy build back stronger. Action must be taken now to put nature into recovery at a local level, in support of regional, national and international work to do the same.

Council notes:

•        The Council’s Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) agreed in 2021 delivering:

o   targeted action to halt loss of habitat, recreate and enhance habitat, and help species & habitats adapt to climate change,

o   management of a hierarchy of sites designated for nature conservation:

§  European designated sites – Solent Special Area of Conservation (SAC) & Special Protection Area (SPA)

§  National designated sites – River Itchen Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) & St Faith’s Meadow SSSI

§  Regional and Local designated sites - Nature Reserves (Winnall) and non-statutory designations including Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC).

o   work with partners including Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust (HIIWT) to manage land for nature conservation, including Whiteshute Ridge SINC.

o   management of cemeteries, Open Spaces and recreation grounds for nature conservation, including on chalk grassland habitats.

o   the Wildflower Project which includes wildflower restoration, wildflower creation, and road verge wildflowers, including community projects and liaison.

o   ongoing protection of bats and birds and providing bird boxes and bat boxes with council house re-roofing projects

•        The following policies contained in the Local Plan Regulation 18 consultation:

o   NE1: Protecting and enhancing Biodiversity and the Natural Environment in the district

o   NE4: Green and Blue Infrastructure

o   NE5: Biodiversity

o   NE15: Special Trees, Important Hedgerows and Ancient Woodlands

o   NE16: Nutrient Neutrality Water Quality Effects on the Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Ramsar Sites of the Solent and The River Itchen

•        that in July 2022 Council affirmed the Council’s policy aim to protect the catchments of our rare and precious habitats, the Itchen, Meon, Test (Dever) and Hamble rivers as far as possible from the cumulative impacts of pollution

•        that Hampshire County Council is the responsible authority under Section 105 of the Environment Act 2021 for the Local Nature Recovery strategy covering Hampshire and the unitary authority areas of Portsmouth and Southampton.

This council resolves to: 

1.    Declare that we are experiencing a nature emergency recognising that

a.    Nature is in long term decline and urgent action must be taken to reverse this.

b.    A thriving natural environment underpins a healthy, prosperous society.

c.     The nature crisis and the climate emergency are intrinsically linked and that the impacts of the climate crisis drive nature’s decline, while restoring nature can help to tackle the climate crisis. 

2.    Consider the impact on nature’s recovery in all strategic plans, policy areas and decision-making processes. 

3.    Make nature based solutions part of our plans to tackle the climate emergency, taking forward, where appropriate and cost effective, the identified Nature intervention opportunities from the Carbon Neutrality Action Plan Roadmap

4.    Review the Council’s biodiversity action plan for opportunities for further enhancement, and report on the progress made.

5.    Encourage and support, when we can, local wildlife agencies to recover our nature and natural environments including areas for habitat restoration widely across the district.

6.    Support Hampshire County Council in the creation and implementation of a Local Nature Recovery Strategy. 

7.    Play our part in improving the quality of our local rivers and streams and campaign for faster Government and water company action to reduce sewage and nutrient pollution in our watercourses.

8.    Improve doorstep access to nature, particularly for those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

9.    Work with local communities, organisations and businesses to help them make decisions and take action which support nature’s recovery.

     ii.         To consider the following Motion to be proposed by Councillor Malcom Wallace.

MOTION ON NUTRIENT NEUTRALITY

This Council notes the statement from Secretary of State Michael Gove that the Government plans to remove the 'Nutrient Neutrality' requirement for Natural England to advise councils not to approve housing schemes that will add to nutrient pollution in already damaged rivers and waterways.

The Council believes this would be a retrograde step which will further damage our already struggling waterways.  The associated £280m ‘offsetting’ funding is an open acknowledgement that scrapping these rules will increase pollution.  Further, this plan transfers responsibility and costs of dealing with pollution from profitable developers to the public.

The Council believes that instead of allowing housebuilders to pollute, the Government should require water companies and housebuilders to invest in upgrading the infrastructure needed as a prerequisite to development whilst continuing to enforce mitigation schemes.  We further believe that with the right investment and appropriate regulation of all sources of pollution to our waterways, from treatment works to agriculture, communities can have both high-quality affordable homes and healthy waterways.

Therefore, this Council resolves to call on the Leader to write publicly to the Secretary of State and to our MPs to express the Council’s views.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10, two motions had been submitted for council.

(i) Motion submitted by Councillor Kelsie Learney (Cabinet Member for the Climate Emergency) – Nature Emergency

The first motion had been submitted by Councillor Learney and was as set out on the agenda and was seconded by Councillor Lee.  The motion was introduced.  

Council then debated the matters in the motion.  In summary, the following points were raised:

• Declaring a nature emergency would positively contribute to tackling the climate crisis and delivery of the council’s carbon neutrality action plan. Nature and the climate emergency are inextricably linked and interdependent.
• Having regard to the nature emergency, the council should consider aspects of its procurement, contractual arrangements and services.  
• Agreeing the motion may assist the council with its response to a future parliamentary bill regarding climate and ecology. 
• The ‘People’s Plans for Nature’ was a collaboration with the public to protect and restore nature and was relevant to the nature emergency. 
• The council should be pragmatic and proportionate in its response to the nature emergency and must continue to provide opportunity to scrutinise, challenge and discuss new potential policy.
• Regarding resolution 7 of the motion, in addition to watercourses, the council must also play its part in protecting our oceans.
• The council was undertaking considerable work in this area already.
• The council should be looking to reverse, rather than reduce the decline in the natural environment.
• There was concern that the government had recently reduced some of its previous commitments regarding environmental matters.
• The council should communicate with its MPs and neighbouring authorities to share its aims regarding tackling the nature emergency.
• The motion and its policy line was in line with the first purpose of the South Downs National Park (SDNP) which was to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the area.  The council’s appointed member representative on the SDNP (Councillor Pett) advised that he would ensure that the greatest synergy was exploited between the council and the SDNP in work to mitigate the nature emergency.
• Humans need ‘green lungs’ and biodiversity to support an expanding population.
• The motion required strong and bold leadership from the council to help deal with the challenges to reverse the decline in biodiversity.
• Improving doorstep access to nature was important as was making improvements to nature for future generations. 
• The motion was about promoting a healthy, natural environment for people to live in.  There was a human emergency behind both the climate and nature emergencies.
• The consequences of not seeking to improve the current situation regarding the natural environment would impact across Hampshire and further afield and was not a local issue.

Following the proposer of the motion (Councillor Learney) exercising her right to respond to the debate, council then voted on the motion as set out on the agenda.  Councillor Learney confirmed that the Leader would write to local MPs and other relevant stakeholders about what this council would be doing in response to the nature emergency.

REsolved:

This council resolves to: 

1. Declare that we are experiencing a nature emergency recognising that

2. Consider the impact on nature’s recovery in all strategic plans, policy areas and decision-making processes. 

3. Make nature based solutions part of our plans to tackle the climate emergency, taking forward, where appropriate and cost effective, the identified Nature intervention opportunities from the Carbon Neutrality Action Plan Roadmap

4. Review the Council’s biodiversity action plan for opportunities for further enhancement, and report on the progress made.

5. Encourage and support, when we can, local wildlife agencies to recover our nature and natural environments including areas for habitat restoration widely across the district.

6. Support Hampshire County Council in the creation and implementation of a Local Nature Recovery Strategy. 

7. Play our part in improving the quality of our local rivers and streams and campaign for faster Government and water company action to reduce sewage and nutrient pollution in our watercourses.

8. Improve doorstep access to nature, particularly for those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

9. Work with local communities, organisations and businesses to help them make decisions and take action which support nature’s recovery.

(ii) Motion submitted by Councillor Malcolm Wallace – Nutrient Neutrality

The second motion had been submitted by Councillor Wallace and was as set out on the agenda and was seconded by Councillor Lee. 

The motion was introduced and with the leave of the seconder of the motion, Councillor Wallace advised that as the House of Lords had agreed not to accept an amendment with respect to planning application decision process, the motion as set out was no longer required at this time and was therefore withdrawn.

RESOLVED:

That the Motion as set out on the agenda proposed by Councillor Malcolm Wallace regarding Nutrient Neutrality, be withdrawn.