Agenda item

Context:

To advise Members of the preparation of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Resilience forward plan in order to meet the Section 6 duty of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 and to provide support for delivery of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

Recommendations:

To seek Select Committee’s endorsement of the Biodiversity & Ecosystem Resilience forward plan prior to its consideration by Council.

Key Issues:

1. Section 6 of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 places a duty on public authorities to seek to maintain and enhance biodiversity where it is within the proper exercise of their functions. In doing so, public authorities must seek to promote the resilience of ecosystems. This means that the Council must take a pro-active approach to improve and not reduce biodiversity when carrying out functions.

2. The duty came into force on 21st May 2016 and replaces the biodiversity duty in the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006. The preparation of a forward plan assists in complying with the new duties and is currently a requirement on all Public Authorities.

3. There is a requirement to report on the plan in 2019 and every 3 years following this. The plan can be subsequently reviewed following the results of monitoring.

4. The work undertaken to meet the Biodiversity and Resilience of Ecosystems duty will assist the Council to maximise contributions to Well-being Goals under the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. It will particularly help towards delivery of the Wellbeing goal for Resilience. This goal is to ensure Wales is a nation which maintains and enhances a biodiverse natural environment with healthy functioning ecosystems that support social, economic and ecological resilience and the capacity to adapt to change (for example climate change).

5. In production of the forward plan we have considered the work that individual service areas undertake which could have a positive or negative impact on Biodiversity & Ecosystem Resilience.

6. The work of other key organisations with whom Monmouthshire County Council can collaborate with to maximise delivery under the Act has also been considered e.g. Wye Valley AONB, Gwent Wildlife Trust and Brecon Beacons National Park Authority.

7. Objectives have subsequently been developed which cover key areas of the Council’s work. Objectives include proposals to adequately consider biodiversity and ecosystem resilience in decision making at all levels, environmental education and awareness raising, management of land for biodiversity and partnership working at a landscape scale to maximise benefits.

8. To ensure future delivery is integrated into the Council’s functions, Welsh Government guidance suggests that commitment to action is integrated into business and corporate plans. This will be the next step in the Council’s compliance with the duty.

Member Scrutiny:

A member applauded the officers for their work and praised them for their forward thinking report.

It was asked if officers were involved with the incredible edible garden and were told that it is a delivery mechanism for this project and hopefully will be used as an example across the county. It was hoped that people would be invited to visit the garden to show them how they can create a pollinator garden.

A member commented on the garden at Usk County Hall and hoped that local medics would visit and promote the health benefits of gardening.

A Member queried the council’s responsibly when dealing with Japanese knotweed and we were told that it is the landowner’s responsibly but it is not an offence to have Japanese knotweed on your land, the offence is to allow it to grow and spread.