Contact: David Pape, tel 023 8038 3464 email: [email protected]

1. Introduction

1.1 The Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006 introduced a new duty for all public bodies to have regard to the conservation of biodiversity. Local government is considered to have particularly wide responsibility under this duty and the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has published guidance to help local authorities implement the duty.

1.2 The Environment Department issued a briefing note on the duty to all Members of the County Council in July 2007. The briefing note identified the County Council's Corporate Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) as the framework for maintaining and developing services in line with the biodiversity duty.

1.3 The Chairman of the Policy and Resources Select Committee requested a briefing on the extent to which County Council services were aligned with the expectations of the new duty. Following the briefing the Chairman has requested an update on the Corporate Biodiversity Action Plan refresh for the period 2008-2011 with a view to reviewing progress against the Plan at a later date.

1.4 This paper summarises achievements to date under the Corporate BAP and progress in updating the Plan with a set of key outcomes, actions and targets for 2008-2011.

2. The Biodiversity Duty

2.1 The duty set out in Section 40 of the NERC Act 2006 states that:

"Every public authority must, in exercising its functions, have regard, so far as is consistent with proper exercise of those functions, to the purpose of conserving biodiversity."

2.2 DEFRA guidance advises that biodiversity should be viewed as a core component of sustainable development, which underpins economic development and prosperity and offers a range of quality of life benefits. The guidance stresses the importance of biodiversity in maintaining and supporting environmental processes, health and wellbeing, recreation, the economy, education, culture, sense of place and social inclusion. Key messages and important aspects of integrating biodiversity into local authority services as set out in the guidance are given in Appendix 1.

3. Corporate Context

3.1 The Corporate Biodiversity Action Plan was adopted by Cabinet in 2005 with the principal aims:

· to conserve the natural environment of the county;

· to ensure that everyone has access to the benefits of nature.

3.2 The Plan has been commended in the House of Commons as a model for other local authorities to follow and is the first case study in DEFRA's guidance to local authorities on implementing the biodiversity duty.

3.3 The Plan accords well with the County Council's corporate priorities `enhancing our quality of place' and `maximising wellbeing' and the following objectives for biodiversity are included in the County Council's Corporate Business Plan:

· Maintain and enhance biodiversity - achieve no net loss of biodiversity through Council decisions or activities

· Management of the Council's land holdings has favourable impact on biodiversity.

3.4 The Corporate Biodiversity Action Plan has underpinned the County Council's commitment to Countdown 2010, a European-wide alliance of partners that have agreed to do their best to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010. The Plan contributes to the County Council's commitment to the Aalborg Charter on sustainable development. The Plan has promoted new cross-departmental working and a wide range of improvements and achievements. A summary of achievements is included in Appendix 2.

3.5 In October 2007 biodiversity was introduced into the new performance framework for local authorities. Performance Indicator 197 measures the proportion of local sites (in Hampshire Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation - SINCs) where there is active conservation management. Hampshire County Council oversees the SINC system in Hampshire on behalf of a wide partnership and has responsibility for the management of over 200 SINCs on its own estate.

4. Corporate Biodiversity Action Plan 2008-2011

4.1 The update of the Corporate Biodiversity Action Plan focuses on four main outcomes:

Outcome 1 - Biodiversity maintained and enhanced within development

Outcome 2 - Sustainable management of the natural environment

Outcome 3 - Nature contributing to health and wellbeing

Outcome 4 - Biodiversity conserved under a changing climate.

4.2 Appendix 2 explains these outcomes, what progress has been made to date and the key activities that will contribute to successful outcomes in the period 2008-2011. The updated Plan takes account of evolving issues and expectations in biodiversity policy and practice. For example new national planning guidance and legislation, the challenges presented by Climate Change and the increasing recognition of the role of biodiversity in achieving health and wellbeing.

4.3 Each of the key activities identified in Appendix 2 encompasses a detailed set of actions and targets that have been developed through discussions across the County Council. The final draft of the plan is currently out for consultation with each department and is due to be presented to the Corporate Sustainable Development Steering Group in May.

4.4 Actions will only be included where departmental resources are available. Most can be achieved within existing capacity, for example by more efficient working or by building closer links between departments. Some actions are investigative or feasibility studies to ensure prudent use of resources.

4.5 The Corporate Biodiversity Group, through the Corporate Sustainable Development Steering Group, will continue to steer strategic activity, and oversee implementation in association with Departmental Sustainability Action Teams.

4.6 A full report on the achievements of the first three years of the Corporate Biodiversity Action Plan is being prepared. Implementation of the Plan for 2008-2011 will be monitored, annual performance reports produced and progress reported to the Policy and Resources Select Committee.

APPENDIX 1

Key messages and important aspects of integrating biodiversity into local authority services

Extract from: Guidance for Local Authorities on Implementing the

Biodiversity Duty, DEFRA 2007

Key messages

· Biodiversity is at the very heart of sustainable development and can contribute positively to social cohesion, community well-being and

quality of life

· A key opportunity for local authorities is to recognise these quality

of life benefits by establishing and maintaining biodiversity conservation as a local priority and integrating biodiversity throughout a range of functions and services.

· There is a need to integrate biodiversity within corporate priorities and internal policy

· There are opportunities to deliver biodiversity conservation through

Local Strategic Partnerships, Sustainable Community Strategies and

Local Area Agreements

· It is important to make best use of the Local Biodiversity Action

Planning process

Extract from: Guidance for Local Authorities on Implementing the

Biodiversity Duty, DEFRA 2007

Important aspects of integrating biodiversity into local authority

services

· Fulfilling statutory obligations for the protection and enhancement of biodiversity within the forward planning and development control processes.

· Incorporating the conservation of biodiversity and its benefits into

relevant strategies of the local authority. These include Corporate

Strategies, sustainable development strategies, procurement

strategies, asset management plans, economic development plans

and environmental management systems

· Having regard to biodiversity within partnership arrangements

such as Community Strategies and Local Area Agreements

· Having regard to biodiversity within partnership arrangements

such as Community Strategies and Local Area Agreements.

· Taking account of the links between biodiversity and other

environmental programmes such as waste management, energy conservation and response to climate change.

· Delivering the key principles for biodiversity set out in national

planning guidance.

· Participating in local biodiversity partnerships and helping to

deliver objectives of Local Biodiversity Action Plans (and where

appropriate UK Biodiversity Action Plans) within relevant local

authority services.

· Working in partnership with other organisations to promote beneficial

land management for biodiversity.

· Protecting and enhancing biodiversity on the local authority estate

· Identifying policy drivers and ensuring up-to-date biodiversity data is

available to the local authority including support to Local Record

Centres.

· Identifying Local Sites of importance for biodiversity and managing

systems, in partnership with others, to take these into account within

the planning and land management processes

· Using the benefits of access to biodiversity in the delivery of services

to the public such as social care, community development, health, and recreation.

· Supporting appropriate access to nature and understanding of the

natural world within schools, community engagement, education programmes. and raising awareness of biodiversity to the public

APPENDIX 2

CORPORATE BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN

OUTCOME 1

Biodiversity maintained and enhanced within development

The County Council supports and develops good practice for biodiversity within the planning process across Hampshire. The County Council has specific responsibility for ensuring that minerals and waste development, highway infrastructure improvements and development on its own estate takes account of biodiversity.

What we have achieved so far:

· We have influenced a robust approach to biodiversity within the South East Plan, including biodiversity targets, areas of opportunity for biodiversity and green infrastructure policy.

· We have initiated a collaborative approach to the Habitat Regulation Assessment of LDFs for PUSH and the preparation of a Green Infrastructure Strategy for South Hampshire.

· We have produced guidance on standards for biodiversity within LDFs in Hampshire.

· We have achieved `no net loss' of biodiversity within our own development, our highway infrastructure improvement programme and our decisions on minerals and waste development.

· We have raised internal awareness of good practice for biodiversity within development which has led to the establishment of a PBR framework contract to provide support on biodiversity.

Key activities 2008 -2011:

· Maintenance and raising of standards for biodiversity within highway infrastructure schemes, mineral and waste development and HCC development.

· Further development of the approach to green infrastructure and provision for biodiversity within Major Development Areas.

· Strategic support on biodiversity to assist LDF preparation and monitoring and to meet requirements under the new standard planning application process.

OUTCOME 2

Sustainable management of the natural environment

Hampshire County Council works with many partners to secure the sustainable management of the natural environment across Hampshire and has responsibility for maintaining and enhancing biodiversity on its own estate.

What we have achieved so far:

· In partnership with others we have secured favourable management on hundreds of hectares of UK Priority Habitat in Hampshire through programmes including the Hampshire Heathlands Project, New Forest Life 3 and the Hampshire Grazing Project.

· 83% of the Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) owned by the County Council are in favourable condition.

· Mechanisms for integrating land management support and advice to landowners have been investigated through the Hampshire Rural Pathfinder.

· Notifying landowners of the designation of Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (UK Priority Habitat) has been completed, but provisional estimates show that only 30% are under favourable management.

· Biodiversity has been incorporated into the Highway Asset Management Plan. Road verges of ecological importance across Hampshire are being managed to conserve their biodiversity, and a road maintenance policy has been established to take account of biodiversity within the New Forest.

Key activities 2008 - 2011:

· Development of targets for the maintenance and restoration of habitats in Hampshire in line with revised national and regional targets. Assessment across agencies of achievement against targets and development of partnership strategies to increase achievement.

· Development of a partnership strategy to promote the management of Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation in Hampshire (National Performance Indicator 197).

· Review of the management of SINCs owned by the County Council and the development of support measures as necessary.

· Completion of the `Wildflower Lawns' pilot in school grounds with a view to roll out across all schools and other HCC landholdings.

OUTCOME 3

Nature contributing to health and wellbeing

There is increasing recognition of the value of nature for improving physical and mental health, quality of life for the elderly, children's wellbeing and social development, and community cohesion. Understanding of the natural environment is also an important aspect of formal education.

What we have achieved so far:

· We have raised internal awareness of the significant value of nature to quality of life.

· We have supported the enhancement of the natural environment within school grounds and at care homes and commenced investigation of mechanisms for wide application.

· We have commenced work on supporting education programmes including the establishment of Hampshire School Nature Watch. We have audited of the need for information on the natural environment by schools, community groups and the public.

· Hillier Gardens has been developed as a show case for managing property for biodiversity, provision of public information on the natural environment and environmental education.

Key activities 2008 - 2011

· Investigation of the potential for innovative partnerships with the health sector and others to develop the use of nature in services supporting health and wellbeing.

· Improve access to the natural environment within schools and for those in care.

· Develop on-line information on biodiversity for schools and the public.

OUTCOME 4

Biodiversity conserved under a changing climate

Following the Climate Change Commission Hampshire County Council has adopted a policy to ensure that climate change considerations are at the heart of decision making, policy development and operational activity. There is widespread recognition of the need to support biodiversity resilience and adaptation to climate change and the use of biodiversity in ameliorating adverse affects of climate change.

What we have achieved so far:

· We have worked with partners to investigate the potential implications of climate change for biodiversity.

· We have submitted evidence on climate change and biodiversity to the Climate Change Commission.

· In partnership with others we have investigated the implications of sea level rise on Hampshire's coastal habitats and we are reviewing issues and options for the management of HCC coastal landholdings in the face of climate change.

Key activities 2008 - 2011

· Establish a set of guiding principles on biodiversity and climate change.

· Work with DEFRA and others to develop research on the consequences of sea level rise, including issues for biodiversity.

· Work with DEFRA and others to develop a research project on the impacts of climate change on rural Hampshire to lead towards an approach to land management which will secure long term resilience to climate change impacts.