Issue - meetings

The Head of Environment and Public Realm introduced the report and explained that although the River Len Nature Reserve was on borough-owned land, the site was managed by a management committee comprised of volunteers. The management plan was due for renewal, and the Parks Team would work alongside the management committee to draft this. During the pandemic, there had been incidences of antisocial behaviour which involved groups of people consuming alcohol and drugs on the site and had resulted in increased littering. The Community Protection Team and the Police had been involved, and reports of sewage leaks had been reported to the Environment Agency who had asked Southern Water Services Ltd to take action in response. 

In response to questions, the Head of Environment and Public Realm confirmed that the current management plan could be circulated to the Committee. The Parks Team hold the budget for maintenance and repairs of the Nature Reserve, and the management committee can escalate issues for the Park Team to assess whether work is needed. The new management plan would be a collaborative document which would involve officers, the Environment Agency and Southern Water Services Ltd as well as the management committee. The Parks Team could be asked to work with Downswood Parish Council to extend the scope of the plan outside of the borough-owned land.

RESOLVED: That the work being undertaken in the River Len Local Nature Reserve be noted.