Archived decisions

Agenda Item 7

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Report

1. Purpose of Report

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. The County Council's Corporate Biodiversity Action Plan provides the framework for maintaining and developing services in line with the biodiversity duty.

1.2. To ensure that the County Council delivers its services in accordance with the Biodiversity Duty, the Policy and Resources Select Committee received a report on the Duty and Corporate Biodiversity Action on 8 April 2008. At that meeting the Committee requested that annual progress reports on the implementation of the Plan be provided.

1.3. This paper introduces the Corporate Biodiversity Action Plan to new Committee Members. It provides a report on progress for the period 2008-09 and key activities for 2009-2010.

1.4. A copy of the Corporate Biodiversity Action Plan 2008-11 is available in the Members' Room and can be viewed at: www.hants.gov.uk/biodiversity/corporateactionplan.htm

2. Contextual Information

2.1. Biodiversity is the natural world, including nationally important habitats and species, the fabric of the countryside such as hedgerows and woodlands, and nature within local neighbourhoods, gardens and school grounds. Biodiversity is important to quality of life:

(i) the natural environment significantly contributes to health and wellbeing;

(ii) biodiversity helps mitigate the effects of climate change;

(iii) the natural environment provides vital services such as food production, flood control, clean air and raw materials, eg wood fuel;

(iv) the natural environment supports the economy, underpinning tourism, recreation and inward investment; and

(v) understanding the natural environment is an important aspect of formal education.

Biodiversity is a cornerstone of sustainable development.

2.2. The Biodiversity 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."

2.3. DEFRA guidance advises that biodiversity is 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.

2.4. The County Council's Corporate Biodiversity Action Plan was adopted by Cabinet in 2005 with the principal aims:

(i) to conserve the natural environment of the county; and

(ii) to ensure that everyone has access to the benefits of nature.

The Plan has been refreshed for the period 2008-2011.

2.5. The County Council's Corporate Biodiversity Action 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.

2.6. The updated Plan for 2008-2011 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 escalating recognition of the role of biodiversity in achieving health and wellbeing.

2.7. The Corporate Biodiversity Action Plan accords well with the County Council's corporate priorities `enhancing our quality of place' and `maximising wellbeing' and plays an important role in achieving the sustainability aspirations set out in the Corporate Plan. The Plan contributes to the County Council's commitment to the Aalborg Charter on sustainable development.

2.8. The Corporate Biodiversity Action Plan has also 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.

2.9. In October 2007 biodiversity was introduced into the new performance framework for local authorities. National performance indicator NI197 focuses on increased performance in the management of Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs). SINCs are locally important sites for nature conservation which are not subject to formal designations. Hampshire County Council oversees the SINC system in Hampshire on behalf of a wide partnership and has responsibility for the management of 230 SINCs on its own estate.

3. Corporate Biodiversity Action Plan 2008-2011

3.1. The Corporate Biodiversity Action Plan 2008-2011 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.

3.2. The Plan includes a set of actions and targets linked to these Outcomes, which have been developed through discussion and agreement across the County Council.

3.3. Actions are identified under the following themes:

· Legislation, policies and programmes

· Climate change

· Forward planning and development

· Transportation and highway management

· Land management

· County Council land holdings

· County Council buildings and grounds

· Data and information

· Education

· Health, wellbeing and community engagement.

3.4. Actions are only included in the Plan where departmental resources are available. Most are being 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.

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

4. Progress and achievements 2008-2009

4.1. At its meeting on 29 June 2009 the Corporate Biodiversity Group reviewed progress against all ongoing actions and actions for completion in 2008/09 identified in the Plan. The Group concluded that all strategic actions have been successfully achieved and significant developments in service provision secured. Key achievements in 2008-2009 and key activities for 2009-2010 are highlighted in Appendix 2. Examples of the key achievements are given here:

Outcome 1 - Biodiversity maintained and enhanced within development

· `No net loss' of biodiversity has been achieved within County Council development, the highway infrastructure improvement programme and decisions on minerals and waste development.

· Provision for swifts has been made within the refurbishment of Ashburton Court.

Outcome 2 - Sustainable management of the natural environment

· 77% of national Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) owned by the County Council are in favourable condition.

· Highway maintenance schemes continue to take account of biodiversity in special areas such as the New Forest and special management regimes for Road Verges of Ecological Importance are being implemented.

· A Rural Strategy for Hampshire has been consulted upon, which has identified strategic needs for the conservation of the natural environment that complement social and economic needs.

Outcome 3 - Nature contributing to health and wellbeing

· The County Council's Corporate Biodiversity Group gave evidence to the Personalisation Commission on the benefits of nature to health and wellbeing. This has raised considerable awareness of the potential use of nature within social care and the health service and a recommendation to Government.

· Enhancement of the natural environment and access to nature within school grounds, care homes and County Council facilities such as Hillier Gardens has been supported.

· 27,500 school children have been involved in Hampshire School Nature Watch.

Outcome 4 - Biodiversity conserved under a changing climate

· Areas of opportunity for restoring and linking habitat in Hampshire which would increase the resilience of the natural environment to the effects of climate change have been comprehensively mapped by the Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre.

· Work with partners is taking place to develop adaptation strategies to take account of the effects of sea level rise on coastal habitats. A Corporate Steering Group has been established to develop a strategy for the County Council's coastal land holdings in the face of climate change.

5. Conclusions

5.1. The County Council has made considerable progress in its implementation of the Corporate Biodiversity Action Plan and continues to demonstrate its exemplary approach to meeting the provisions of the Biodiversity Duty.

IMPACT ASSESSMENTS:

1. Equalities Impact Assessment:

1.1. Some impact. The Plan promotes quality of life by enabling access to nature and specifically promotes access to nature within the County Council services for the elderly, children and those in care.

2. Impact on Crime and Disorder:

2.1. Minimal impact. The plan promotes green urban environments. Reduced rates of crime and disorder have been demonstrated in green urban environments.

3. Climate Change:

a) How does what is being proposed impact on our carbon footprint / energy consumption?

The Plan promotes the use of wood fuel as a renewable energy resource.

b) How does what is being proposed consider the need to adapt to climate change, and be resilient to its longer term impacts?

The plan specifically addresses the need to adapt to climate change under Outcome 4 - Biodiversity conserved under a changing climate. The Plan also identifies the role of the natural environment in ameliorating the impacts of climate change, such as flood mitigation.

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

Corporate Biodiversity Action Plan

Hampshire County Council's Corporate Biodiversity Action Plan focuses on four main outcomes. These outcomes are set out below, together with a summary of what has been achieved against them during 2008-2009 and the key activities that will contribute to the outcomes during 2009-2010.

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 2008-2009:

· 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 supported a Hampshire wide review of options for district and unitary authority procurement of ecological support for their planning and development control functions. This has resulted in agreement to secure the necessary support from the County Council.

· We are preparing a Green Infrastructure Strategy for South Hampshire which focuses on conserving biodiversity and ensuring access to the natural environment.

· We have established a consultancy framework contract within Property, Business and Regulatory to assist provision for biodiversity within County Council development.

· We have produced guidance for developers and planners to support the new national Standard Planning Application Form that requires all planning applications to take account of biodiversity.

· We have achieved considerable enhancement of biodiversity within minerals development, while enabling key developments to secure Hampshire's mineral needs.

· Provision for swifts has been made within the refurbishment of Ashburton Court.

Key activities 2009-2010

· Establishment of an ecology support service for district and unitary authorities under service level agreements.

· Provision for biodiversity within the Minerals and Waste Development Frameworks.

· Provision for biodiversity within major developments including the Whitehill-Bordon Eco-Town and Bus Rapid Transit.

· Development of ecological support for County Council development

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 2008-2009:

· 77% of national Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) owned by the County Council are in favourable condition.

· We are working with partners to secure the management of Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs) across Hampshire (Local Government National Performance Indicator NI 197). Current performance against this indicator shows that 42% of SINCs are in positive management, 6% are not in positive management and for 52% of sites management status in unknown.

· We have completed the first phase of a review of the management of 230 Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs) owned by the County Council.

· We continue to ensure our highway maintenance schemes take account of biodiversity in special areas such as the New Forest and implement special management regimes for Road Verges of Ecological Importance.

· We are piloting adjustments to routine grassland maintenance in school grounds to establish `wildflower lawns'. This encourages wildlife and supports children's enjoyment of nature and education.

· We have launched a DVD on the management of Hampshire Commons to illustrate their public value and conservation requirements. We are piloting local consensus building techniques to secure the management of common land for wildlife and public benefit.

· We have identified with partners 42 Biodiversity Opportunity Areas in Hampshire. These are strategic areas of the county with particular importance for biodiversity and potential for conservation of the natural environment across extensive landscapes.

· We have consulted on a Rural Strategy for Hampshire, which has identified strategic needs for the conservation of the natural environment that compliment social and economic needs.

Key activities 2009-2010

· Acquisition of agri-environment funding to support environmental conservation on County Council land holdings.

· Development of a partnership strategy for improving the extent of Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs) in Hampshire under positive management (NI 197).

· Review of provision for biodiversity within the Biodiversity Opportunity Areas in Hampshire and opportunities to improve provision in partnership with other agencies.

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 2008-2009:

· The County Council's Corporate Biodiversity Group gave evidence to the Personalisation Commission on the benefits of nature to health and wellbeing. This has raised considerable awareness of the potential use of nature within social care and the health service and a recommendation to Government.

· We have supported the enhancement of the natural environment and access to nature within school grounds, care homes and County Council facilities such as Hillier Gardens.

· We have involved 27,500 school children in Hampshire School Nature Watch.

· The County Council continues to promote access to the natural environment and environmental education facilities at a wide range of Countryside Sites, Country Parks and study centres.

· A Green Infrastructure Strategy for South Hampshire is being prepared which will provide a model for planning access to nature in urban areas.

Key activities 2009 - 2010

· Review of initiatives in Hampshire using nature to support health and wellbeing and investigation of opportunities to expand provision in partnership with others, including the health sector.

· Investigation of options for public participation in a wildlife survey to promote contact with nature and environmental awareness.

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 2008-2009:

· We have published reports on the opportunity for the use of wood fuel in Hampshire and South Hampshire.

· Through the Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre we have comprehensively mapped areas of opportunity for restoring and linking habitat in Hampshire which would increase the resilience of the natural environment to the affects of climate change.

· We are working with partners to develop adaptation strategies to take account of the effects of sea level rise on coastal habitats. We have established a Corporate Steering Group to develop a strategy for the County Councils coastal land holdings in the face of climate change.

Key activities 2009-2010

· We are leading the Hampshire Biodiversity Partnership in developing strategies to promote land management across the extensive network of Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation and Biodiversity Opportunity Areas. This is considered to be the best insurance policy to increase resilience of the natural environment to climate change across Hampshire.

· Work has commenced on scoping a Climate Change Vision and Strategy for Hampshire which will take account of safeguarding biodiversity and the use of biodiversity in amelioration of effects of climate change.

· Development of the Coastal Adaptation Strategy for County Council landholdings.

· Review of the opportunity to enhance biodiversity through the harvesting of wood fuel within Hampshire's woodland.