The
Parks and Open Spaces Manager gave an introduction to the Committee
on the Draft Bio-diversity Strategy.
The
Committee noted that previously the Council had adopted its Local
Biodiversity Action Plan in 2011 which covered the period
2009-2014. This was jointly produced by
the Council’s Parks and Leisure Team and Medway Valley
Countryside Partnership.
Due to
a number of significant changes to the approach to conservation
management and the political environment the Committee in 2018
agreed to fund a refresh of the Biodiversity Action
Plan. Medway Valley Countryside
Partnership was tasked with preparing this as a new Biodiversity
Strategy which has now been completed.
The
Committee felt that the document was considerably long and there
was a depth of detail within the Strategy and to enable it to be
given their full attention, a Workshop should be held in the
new year where all Members of the
Council could attend to enable that understanding to be
had. Then the Committee could receive a
report after that time for consideration.
RESOLVED: That the report related to the draft Biodiversity
Strategy be deferred to enable a Workshop to take place in January
2020 where all Members would be invited.