Contact: David Pape, ext 6739 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The following decisions were taken:

(i) That the Corporate Biodiversity Action Plan be approved by Cabinet for adoption by relevant departments for implementation.

(ii) That progress on implementing the Corporate Biodiversity Action Plan be monitored and reported as part of annual reporting on the County Council's performance in sustainable development.

(iii) That the Corporate Biodiversity Action Plan be sent to the Government Office of the South East, the South East England Regional Assembly and the South East England Development Agency to encourage these organisations to include this Plan in their consideration of quality of life in the South East Plan, and to the New Forest National Park Authority to inform its future work.

(iv) That the County Councils' Network be asked to refer the Corporate Biodiversity Action Plan to their Rural Task Group to look at the problems affecting rural areas of the country.

2. Reason

2.1 This decision supports Aim 2 of the Corporate Strategy (Stewardship of the Environment) by improving the County Council's performance in conserving and enhancing biodiversity and implementation of the objectives of the Corporate Sustainable Development Strategy.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 Taking no action.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or Other Executive Member Consulted - None.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: ..................................... Date: ...................................

Councillor T K Thornber

135Decn/DP