Banter 01: Biodiversity, with Andrew Maliphant 10Jan24
Last updated
Last updated
Please find a copy of the video from today here:
Here is an approximate timeline of events in the video (mins:secs):
0 - 06:30 People arriving, introduce themselves
06:30 - 10:00 Andrew introduces Great Collaboration, purpose of banter sessions
10:00 - 21:50 Today's Topic: Andrew presents model Biodiversity Policy
21:50 - end (1:25:35). Really really useful Q&A session
January 2024
Under the 2021 Environment Act, public authorities (including town and parish councils) operating in England must consider what they can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity.
Government guidance published on 17 May 2023 clarifies that, as a public authority, town and parish councils must:
Consider what they can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity.
Agree policies and specific objectives based on their consideration.
Act to deliver their policies and achieve their objectives.
Town and parish councils, unlike other authorities, are not obliged to publish a report on their actions, but the Government guidance required all public authorities to complete their first consideration of what action to take for biodiversity by 1 January 2024. They were required to agree their policies and objectives as soon as possible and must then reconsider the selected actions within five years of completing their previous consideration, or more frequently if they choose.
To comply with the guidance, town and parish councils could as a minimum:
Have biodiversity as an agenda item for a meeting (if not already, as soon as possible).
Note what action they are already taking to conserve and enhance biodiversity.
Agree what further steps they should take to conserve and enhance biodiversity.
Such steps may include:
Reviewing what biodiversity or nature recovery plans are already in place from other local authorities, e.g., potential for jointly-supported wildlife corridors.
Making contact with local voluntary groups working on nature conservation.
Carrying out a biodiversity audit of council landholdings and/or the whole council area, potentially involving residents in a “BioBlitz.”
Gathering expert advice on possible actions in support of biodiversity.
Drafting an action plan that covers action that the council will take itself as well as support for the actions of other local bodies.
In accordance with the duty imposed on town and parish councils by Section 40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, updated by Section 102 of the Environment Act 2021, [insert council name] (hereinafter referred to as the Council) must from time to time consider what action the authority can properly take, consistently with the proper exercise of its functions, to further the general biodiversity objective.
This duty also means that town and parish councils can spend funds on conserving biodiversity.
According to Defra (Biodiversity 2020), biodiversity is the variety of all life on Earth. It includes all species of animals and plants – everything that is alive on our planet. Biodiversity is important for its own sake and has its own intrinsic value. It also provides essentials such as food, fresh water, clean air, protection from natural disasters, and pollination of crops.
The objective of this policy is to work towards conserving and enhancing the biodiversity of the Council’s area.
The Full Council and any committees of the Council will consider sustainability, environmental impact, and biodiversity when making decisions and will develop and implement policies and strategies as required.
In particular, the Council will:
Consider the potential impact on biodiversity represented by planning applications.
Manage its land and property using environmentally friendly practices that promote biodiversity.
Support local businesses and council operations in the adoption of low-impact/nature-positive practices.
Encourage and support other organisations within the parish/town to manage their areas of responsibility with biodiversity in mind.
Support residents and local organisations' activities to enhance and promote biodiversity.
Planning Applications
The Council will:
Support site and building design that benefits biodiversity through the conservation and integration of existing habitats or provision of new habitats.
Support protection of sensitive habitats from development.
Consider what each proposed development might make in terms of biodiversity net gain.
Include policies in support of biodiversity within the neighbourhood plan.
Land and Property Management
The Council will:
Carry out a biodiversity audit of its landholdings.
Consider the conservation and promotion of local biodiversity with regard to the management of its open spaces.
Adopt beneficial practices regarding cutting and removal of vegetation, application of chemicals, and timing of maintenance work.
Source sustainable materials when procuring supplies for the Council’s use.
Consider biodiversity issues and implement changes when managing its buildings.
Local Community
The Council will:
Raise public awareness of biodiversity issues.
Engage with local businesses and residents on biodiversity in the community.
Involve the community in biodiversity projects on its land where feasible, such as tree planting or birdbox making.
Partners
The Council will work in partnership with other organisations to protect, promote, and enhance biodiversity within the council area. It will review any local nature recovery strategies, species conservation strategies, or protected site strategies and consider how it may become more involved in implementing recommendations.
This policy was adopted on xx (Minute reference yy) and will be reviewed in two years or sooner should legislation dictate. A summary of how the policy has been implemented will be published annually, with reference to the original biodiversity audit to show progress.
Whole council area
Raise local awareness of biodiversity.
Gain local support for action.
Ongoing
Newsletter, social media, website
Protect and support biodiversity
Encourage suitable planting to support biodiversity.
Connect & diversify habitats to meet the needs of a variety of wildlife species.
Ongoing
Mapping
Additional details about actions at the cemetery, recreation grounds, common spaces, and other community areas follow similar structure.
APPENDIX A includes a case study from Stratfield Mortimer Parish Council, with detailed specifications about grounds maintenance at the Fairground site.
00:46:51 Jeremy Johnson: Interesting stuff. Thanks, but must drop off now.
00:59:36 Amanda Davis: Re Wildlife Corridors: a simple example - Bee Squares are often promoted, even better is a bee corridor! Combine with neighbours. Individual squares some distance apart is enough for visiting bees to become dehydrated or fatigued (apparently)
01:03:22 Tim Rickard: BNG is immature, yes. I’d like to see this issue given wider attention - maybe here on another occasion?
01:04:30 Amanda Davis: If a larger parish council has Parish Online but the neighbouring tiny parishes don't, can we share the larger parishes "licence" to work together? Seems cheeky, but helpful ! 01:08:15 Tim Rickard: Replying to "Re Wildlife Corridor..."
We’ve been doing this in the Forest, here and there. Still patchy, but worthwhile and excellent for working with children. As for the corridors, we’re thinking of miles and miles, metre by metre! 01:08:34 Amanda Davis: Replying to "Re Wildlife Corridor..."
❤️ 01:08:47 Tim Rickard: Thank you Andrew and all, most worthwhile.
01:09:48 Graham Stoddart-Stones: Amanda, at the risk of encountering Tristram’s wrath, re sharing Parish Online licences: Licence costs are dependent on parish size - so the annual cost for a small parish can be as little as £30 - affordable, no?
01:13:15 yvonne Colverson Derbyshire ALC: I'm really sorry, I have to leave. Look forward to seeing you all next week. Really good session, thank you so much.
01:14:19 Amanda Davis: Rivers Trusts too 01:14:36 Sarah Whitelaw: Replying to "Re Wildlife Corridor..."
Excellent session .. MANY thanks
01:15:49 Amanda Davis: Reacted to "Amanda, at the risk ..." with 👍
01:16:02 Peter Bates: Thanks a lot 01:16:07 Amanda Davis: Replying to "Amanda, at the risk ..."
didn't know that, thanks
01:19:46 Graham Stoddart-Stones: Thank you, Peter
01:21:01 Kirsten Newble: Just a quick example of some of the resources we have available:
01:22:10 Tim Rickard: Re Cars: Try Malvern Car Club - 180 members and 18 or so cars, about 6 EVs. Community Energy very big in Forest of Dean. We do Forest Jungle as well….
01:22:26 Amanda Davis: Reacted to "Re Cars: Try Malvern..." with ❤️
01:22:41 Peter Bates: The Great Collaboration Project
01:23:11 Tim Rickard: Reacted to "The Great Collaborat..." with 👍
01:23:15 Kirsten Newble: Great meeting. Thank you very much.
01:23:28 Sarah Whitelaw: Replying to "Great meeting. Thank..."yep !!
01:23:32 Helen Dye, Natural Cambridgeshire: Thank you - great to meet you all - keep up the good work!!
01:24:23 Tim Rickard: Forest has just introduced an Ethical Investment Policy
01:24:30 Peter Bates: Thanks a lot. Need to go.
01:24:44 Amanda Davis: Reacted to "Forest has just intr..." with 👍
Table of links from this meeting:
demonstrations of Parish Online digital mapping
free on zoom every week
Helping councils and community groups with resilience, mitigation, and biodiversity
The Great Collaboration
00:03:14 Graham Stoddart-Stones:
00:47:11 Andrew Maliphant:
01:03:53 Graham Stoddart-Stones: Free demonstrations of Parish Online every Monday at 11.30am; all welcome:
01:09:26 yvonne Colverson Derbyshire ALC: I'm sure here will be as the group develops and we get more feedback from our member councils.
01:19:16 Peter Bates:
01:19:43 Peter Bates:
01:20:14 Peter Bates:
01:21:03 Peter Bates:
01:21:21 Kirsten Newble:
01:21:36 Peter Bates: