|
PLANNING AND INFRASTRUCTURE POLICY ADVISORY COMMITTEE |
5 April 2023 |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan Annual Review |
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
Will this be a Key Decision?
|
Yes |
||||||||||||||||
|
Urgency |
Not Applicable |
||||||||||||||||
|
Final Decision-Maker |
Executive |
||||||||||||||||
|
Lead Head of Service |
Angela Woodhouse, Director of Strategy, Insight and Governance |
||||||||||||||||
|
Lead Officer and Report Author |
James Wilderspin, Biodiversity and Climate Change Manager |
||||||||||||||||
|
Classification |
Public |
||||||||||||||||
|
Wards affected |
All |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
Executive Summary |
|||||||||||||||||
|
The Biodiversity and Climate Change Action plan has been reviewed and updated as part of the scheduled annual review. The plan at Appendix 1 has been developed with the executive and the Policy Advisory Committees are asked to review the plan and make recommendations as appropriate.
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
Purpose of Report
To consider and recommend the revised Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan to the Executive.
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
This report makes the following recommendations to the Planning and Infrastructure Policy Advisory Committee: |
|||||||||||||||||
|
1. To consider the Actions that fall within its remit and recommend the updated Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan to the Executive.
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan Annual Review |
|
|
|
Issue |
Implications |
Sign-off |
|
Impact on Corporate Priorities |
The four Strategic Plan objectives are:
|
Anna Collier Insight Communities and Governance Manager |
|
Cross Cutting Objectives |
The four cross-cutting objectives are:
The report recommendation directly supports the achievement of the Biodiversity and Environmental Sustainability is respected cross cutting objective through the delivery of the Biodiversity and Climate Change Action plan. It also indirectly supports cross cutting objectives of Health Inequalities are Addressed and Reduced Deprivation and Social Mobility is Improved as delivery of actions have the opportunity to improve the health of residents in the longer term and the delivery of communication activities has the ability to reduce residents’ energy costs.
|
Anna Collier Insight Communities and Governance Manager |
|
Risk Management |
Already covered in the risk section.
|
Anna Collier Insight Communities and Governance Manager |
|
Financial |
The specific costed proposals will be funded from within existing budgets. Future changes to policies and strategies will need to be assessed to understand the impact to ensure they remain affordable during the year and in future years as part of the Medium Term Financial Strategy.
|
Section 151 Officer & Finance Team |
|
Staffing |
We will deliver the recommendations with our current staffing.
|
Anna Collier Insight Communities and Governance Manager |
|
Legal |
Local authorities have a duty under Section 40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 in exercising their functions to have regard, so far as is consistent with the proper exercise of those functions, to the purpose of conserving biodiversity.
The Council’s Biodiversity and Climate Action Plan demonstrates compliance with the statutory duty. |
Gary Rowland – Senior Legal Advisor (Corporate Governance) |
|
Information Governance |
The recommendations do not impact personal information (as defined in UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018) the Council Processes. Some individual actions may have implications in the future and the appropriate review and documentations will be completed as required |
Anna Collier Insight Communities and Governance Manager |
|
Equalities |
If not already considered, an Equalities Impact Assessment should be completed as part of the recommended work set out in the action plan to ensure they meet the needs of those affected by it.
|
Equalities & Communities Officer |
|
Public Health
|
We recognise that the recommendations will have a positive impact on population health or that of individuals.
|
Public Health Officer |
|
Crime and Disorder |
No Implications
|
Anna Collier Insight Communities and Governance Manager |
|
Procurement |
Some actions will have implications and the appropriate procurement exercises will be undertaken |
Head of Service & Section 151 Officer |
|
Biodiversity and Climate Change |
The implications of this report on biodiversity and climate change have been considered and are aligns with the annual review process to ensure the Action Plan is relevant and able to be implemented on behalf of the council.
|
Biodiversity and Climate Change Manager |
2. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
2.1 The annual review of the Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan is stipulated as part of the action plan to check if actions are still relevant, if there are new Government approaches or science-based targets, and if actions are progressing. At the last update of the action plan at Communities Housing and Environment PAC on the 15 November 2022 the Leader outlined the proposed annual review process for the actions within the Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan to be separated into those within the Council’s direct control and those it can influence. The actions would be aligned to the relevant Lead Member on the Executive and presented to the respective Policy Advisory Committees as part of the annual review process. The Leader of the Council stated that the proposed approach would be manageable and would ensure that the actions were effectively monitored.
2.2 The review included the following steps:
· Officers and the Executive reviewed the wording, clarity, timeline of each of the 68 actions to ensure actions are specific and transparent.
· It was clarified which actions were in direct control of the council and those actions the council can influence.
· Actions were aligned to Portfolio holders and PACs to ensure accountability at an Executive level.
· A streamlined action plan has been developed for consultation and final approval with PACs.
2.3 The revised action plan can be seen at Appendix 1. The plan details the action, responsible PAC and officers, the timeline, indicators, and costs. A succinct version of the revised action plan can be found at Appendix 2. There are significant cost implications to meeting our challenging net zero ambition, these go beyond the budget available and recognise the need to apply for and make use of grant funding and other opportunities as they are identified.
2.4 The action plan follows 9 themes:
· Active Travel and Green Transportation
· Decarbonising and insulating homes and buildings
· Generating renewable energy
· Reducing waste
· Adapting to climate change
· Enhancing and increasing biodiversity
· Making our estate carbon neutral
· Communications and engagement strategy
· Sustainable decision-making processes and governance
3. AVAILABLE OPTIONS
3.1 Economic Regeneration and Leisure Policy Advisory Committee review the new version of the Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan and recommend, the addition, removal or change of actions within the action plan.
3.2 Alternatively, Economic Regeneration and Leisure Policy Advisory Committee could recommend to the Executive that the original version of the action plan is retained or that further review is required.
4. PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
4.1 That Economic Regeneration and Leisure Policy Advisory Committee consider and recommend the updated Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan as its adoption ensures greater clarity and monitoring of the actions.
5.
RISK
5.1 Biodiversity and Climate Change is a key corporate risk. In April 2019, the council declared a Biodiversity and Climate Change Emergency, ensuring that the Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan is a relevant and actionable document will help to mitigate that risk.
6. CONSULTATION RESULTS AND PREVIOUS COMMITTEE FEEDBACK
6.1 The Policy and Resources Committee adopted the Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan on 21st October 2020.
6.2 On November 15 2022, Communities, Housing and Environment Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) considered an update on the action plan. The PAC was advised by the Leader that the annual review of the action plan would ensure actions were specific, clear and transparent. The results of which would be shared with each PAC prior to sign-off. The Committee expressed support for the proposed review process and welcomed greater Member involvement.
6.3 A number of informal meetings have been held with Officers and the Executive to review the plan.
7. NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION
7.1 The action plan will be presented to each Policy Advisory Committee for consideration prior to a decision by the Executive on 18 April 2023.
7.2 Once approved the website will be updated to show the new actions.
7.3 Progress of the implementation of the actions will continue to be monitored and updates given to relevant PACs on a six-monthly basis.
8. REPORT APPENDICES
The following documents are published with this report and form part of the report:
· Appendix 1: Revised Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan
· Appendix 2: Biodiversity and Climate Change Actions Succinct List
9. BACKGROUND PAPERS
None