Minutes:
Councillor Lee addressed the Committee on this item.
In summary, Councillor Lee made reference to the following points which were responded to accordingly by the Ms Somers and relevant officers:
· Rivers struggling to meet the appropriate standards and statuses.
· Suggested there was a triple challenge: climate, nature and pollution crises and an overarching approach should be considered.
· Local reassurance sought on the state of the River Meon in comparison with the gold standard at the River Itchen and River Test.
· Improved methods to register, recruit and train volunteers and conservation groups to enable them to act and support the Trust.
· Non-compliance and off grid sewage system plans to generate action.
· That consideration be given to Southern Water and other statutory organisations attending future meetings of the committee as a follow up to their previous attendance in March 2023.
Councillor Power addressed the Committee on this item.
In summary, Councillor Power made reference to the following points which were responded to accordingly by Ms Somers and relevant officers:
· The Watercress and Winterbournes Project was very successful for training volunteers.
· Outstanding action to publish conclusions: given the emerging threats and opportunities regarding water quality currently, it was suggested that consideration be given to an annual review on actions taken and results achieved to form a part of the council’s annual report.
· A report on biodiversity
· Commitment to publicise and celebrate work being done locally in neighbouring parishes.
· Queried the current status of the SSSI’s – oil spill in Cheriton, emerging threats and opportunities.
The Chairperson stated that where matters had not been addressed and suggestions of an annual review had been raised, these points would be explored further, taking into consideration the resource implications for officers, and a response would be provided in due course after the meeting.
The Chairperson welcomed Sienna Somers from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust to the meeting who provided an update on water quality and water pollution issues, an overview of the current state of the River Itchen, protection for chalk streams, monitoring work being undertaken by other trusts and organisations, community programmes and measures the trust were adopting to improve the position.
The committee were informed of opportunities and actions the council were encouraged to consider going forward, these included:
(i) A strategic approach: the development of an overarching strategy;
(ii) Recognising the strong links with local planning;
(ii) Making the best use of biodiversity net gain;
(iii) The enhancement of policies surrounding chalk streams to be embedded within the new local plan process; and
(iv) An improved understanding of the council’s plans and processes to drive forward supporting communities into taking action.
The committee proceeded to ask questions and comment on the following matters which were responded to by Ms Somers and relevant officers.
(a) The expectations of a strategic approach – wide ranging, restoring natural function, erosion, looking at natural assets, key targets and clear links etc. An example of a ‘gold standard’ would be provided from the Trust.
(b) Solent kelp bed regeneration project update.
(c) Contamination of our water from nitrates, agricultural use and oestrogen content, its impact on wildlife and the monitoring and testing controls in place.
(d) List of sites in ecological decline, the nature of the decline and the likely cause.
(e) Biggest immediate threat to the rivers – low flows by abstraction in head waters and the lack of salmon was a key indicator of this.
(f) The classification of the River Meon and flooding action groups to report concerns.
(g) Nutrient neutrality carbon credits.
(h) How can residents help preserve rivers in the district? Signposting to chalk stream champions, citizens science programme.
(i) The worst contributors to pollution – evidence suggests farming and waste water treatment. Full statistics can be provided by the Trust.
(j) Creating improved planning protections around water with changes to legislation to ensure pre-existing infrastructure was in place for supply and treatment prior to planning taking place at a regional planning level.
(k) Thoughts around how chalk streams in the local environment sit within the local plan review process to seek best practice and improved targets for biodiversity net gain.
At the conclusion of debate, the committee thanked Sienna Somers for attending the meeting to provide an informative update and welcomed further information from the Trust regarding local authorities that were carrying out a strategic approach to a high standard as an example to follow.
RESOLVED:
That the update be received, and the comments raised by the committee, as summarised above, be noted.