Issue - meetings

The Committee is asked to note the content of the Biodiversity Background Paper and subject to any additions or amendments, endorse the approach as set out in section 8.0 for the preparation of the emerging Local Plan.

The Committee:

(1)            Noted the content of the Biodiversity Background paper attached at Annex 1

(2)            Endorsed the approach as set out in section 8.0 of Annex 1 for the preparation of the Local Plan, subject to amendments agreed in the meeting.

A Local Plan background paper regarding Biodiversity had been prepared detailing the biodiversity of the Borough including Sites of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI); Non-statutory designations; Ancient Woodlands and Sites of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI’s). Biodiversity Opportunity Areas (BOA’s) in the borough were also identified.

It was noted that biodiversity makes a positive contribution towards the Borough’s visual character and appearance, and in terms of mitigating the adverse impacts of climate change. 

The following points and suggestions were made:

·                     It was agreed to incorporate related issues of climate change, and health and wellbeing into the background paper

·                     It was noted (Page 212 Paragraph 5.1) that some of the Borough’s open spaces were already at risk from overuse.  Without extending areas of biodiversity or increasing the capacity of those open spaces that act as buffers (to protected sites/habitats) there was a risk that future growth would have an adverse impact in the borough’s biodiversity.  It was agreed that paragraph 5.1 be amended to reflect this.

The Committee recognised the amount of work that had gone into compiling the biodiversity information and thanked them for such a thorough and informative report.

The Committee:

(1)          Noted the content of the Biodiversity Background paper attached at Annex 1

(2)          Endorsed the approach as set out in section 8.0 of Annex 1 for the preparation of the Local Plan, subject to amendments agreed in the meeting.