Issue - meetings

The purpose of this report is to outline process for enhancing biodiversity on Council owned Strategic Parks and Open Spaces and endorse the short, medium, and long-term goals for continued improvement in Biodiversity habitat on those sites in readiness for future funding opportunities.

Executive Portfolio holders:

Executive Councillor for Climate/Environment; and

Executive Councillor Leisure, Waste and Street Scene.

The Cabinet:

1)  approved of the following delivery schedule for planned biodiversity enhancement work for HDC strategic sites:

Short-term (Tranche 1) – 1 - 2 Years

·  Hill Rise Park, St Ives

·  Priory Park, St Neots

·  Spring Common, Huntingdon

Medium-term (Tranche 2) – 3 – 5 Years

·  Barford Road Pocket Park, St Neots

·  Stukeley Meadows Nature Reserve, Huntingdon

·  Sapley Playing Fields, Huntingdon

Long-term (Tranche 3) – 5 – 10 Years

·  Hinchingbrooke Country Park, Huntingdon

·  Riverside Park, St Neots

·  Oxmoor Urban Park, Huntingdon

·  Berman Park, St Ives

·  Paxton Pits, Little Paxton

·  The Thicket, St Ives

·  Holt Island, St Ives

2)  endorsed the decision to commission a delivery partner to lead on the design, consultation and delivery of the work.

The Cabinet considered a report by the Open Spaces Project Manager (a copy of which is appendedin the Minute Book) that outlined the proposed plan to deliver biodiversity enhancement works on the Council's strategic sites through the Biodiversity for All project.

The Executive Councillor for Climate and Environment reported that this work plan was essential to meet the Council’s obligation to achieve a 10% biodiversity net gain under the Environment Act 2021. It was further noted that the project directly linked to the action in the Corporate Plan, which committed to delivering the Plan for Nature and contributing to the Local Nature Recovery Strategy to guide greater biodiversity and nature restoration in the District.

The Cabinet also noted that the project linked to the Council’s Climate Strategy, through the delivery of good quality and accessible open spaces and play facilities that has a direct impact on improving the quality of life for local people specifically improving happiness and wellbeing of residents and creating a better Huntingdonshire for future generations specifically lower carbon emissions.

The Cabinet agreed on the importance of enabling residents and businesses to thrive by listening and working with them as outlined in the corporate plan, opportunities to collaborate in the effective and efficient delivery of open spaces and nature-based activities to best meet the needs and wants of Council communities and influencing partner organisations and stakeholders by creating a shared vision benefiting Huntingdonshire. Through the provision of evidence and sharing opportunity the Council can, in conjunction with local communities and partner agencies, influence the provision of the right open spaces and play facilities.

The Cabinet was informed that the Strategic Sites work plan was part of the broader Biodiversity for All programme and focuses on the sites the Council either owns or is leased. This work plan, as set out in the report, is entirely separate to the Biodiversity for All Community Grant Scheme which is a distinct element of the overall project and will be accessible to external landowners.

The Cabinet was advised that they were being asked to approve the schedule of biodiversity improvement, leading to March 2025 and beyond, on Council strategic sites. The report also sought endorsement of the commissioning of a delivery partner to progress works on the strategic sites.

Accordingly, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

a)  that the following delivery schedule for planned biodiversity enhancement work for HDC strategic sites be approved:

Short-term (Tranche 1) – 1 - 2 Years

·  Hill Rise Park, St Ives

·  Priory Park, St Neots

·  Spring Common, Huntingdon

Medium-term (Tranche 2) – 3 – 5 Years

·  Barford Road Pocket Park, St Neots

·  Stukeley Meadows Nature Reserve, Huntingdon

·  Sapley Playing Fields, Huntingdon

Long-term (Tranche 3) – 5 – 10 Years

·  Hinchingbrooke Country Park, Huntingdon

·  Riverside Park, St Neots

·  Oxmoor Urban Park, Huntingdon

·  Berman Park, St Ives

·  Paxton Pits, Little Paxton

·  The Thicket, St Ives

·  Holt Island, St Ives

b)  that the decision to commission a delivery partner to lead on the design, consultation, and delivery of the work be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64

The Panel is invited to comment on the Biodiversity For All – Strategic Open Spaces Report.

Executive Councillors: Councillor L Davenport-Ray

   Councillor S Taylor

By means of a report by the Open Spaces Project Manager (a copy of which was appended in the Minute Book), the Biodiversity for All – Strategic Open Spaces Report was presented to the Panel.

Following questions from Councillor Alban, it was confirmed to the Panel that MKA was the name of the ecology consultancy who undertook the audit in the report. It was also confirmed that Units were defined by Natural England and were broken down by habitats. The Panel heard that this was a complex field and that different habitat types had different units attached. It was suggested that a separate briefing be arranged to discuss this in more detail.

Following a question from Councillor Hunt on community involvement, the Panel heard that the team envisaged community engagement to allow for conversations regarding this.

Councillor Bywater enquired about the anticipated budget for the planned work and expressed concerns on clarity of costings, following which, the Panel were assured that external funding had been secured via the Combined Authority and would form the budget for the planned works. It was further highlighted that Appendix E illustrated the potential uplift in biodiversity to be achieved by this. It was further assured that the team want to achieve as much as possible with the funding available but also that national funding  was expected, the works done to date would allow the team to be in a good position once this became available to further develop projects.

Councillor Burke enquired about community engagement with groups who are known users of the districts Open Spaces, the Panel were assured that a communications plan would be implemented to ensure this.

It was clarified to the Panel, following a question from Councillor Shaw, that Appendix A demonstrated the breakdown of all aspects of the project and its costs. It was further clarified, further to a question from Councillor Hunt, that the audits would be published on the HDC website in due course.

Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

that the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel be passed to Cabinet for their consideration when making a decision upon the recommendations contained within the report.