Agenda item

3.1       Nick Pond, Ecological Regeneration Manager, presented the report to the Committee and highlighted the following key points:

·         The report provided an overview of the new proposed Biodiversity Action Plan “A Natural Renaissance for Lewisham 2015-2020” which would go to Mayor and Cabinet for approval on 23 March 2016.

·         Biodiversity action planning policies derive from the 1992 Rio Convention. The Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 states that every public authority must, in exercising its functions, have regard to conserving biodiversity. Also, the National Planning Policy Framework states that planning systems should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by minimising impacts on biodiversity and providing biodiversity gains where possible.

·         The Biodiversity Action Plan was the result of a substantial amount of on-going partnership working between Lewisham Council and a large range of local groups and Individuals as well as National groups and agencies. This forms the Lewisham Biodiversity Partnership.

·         The Plan sets out the Partnership’s aspirations to contribute and influence the Council’s objectives across a range of service areas including: education; urban regeneration; housing; parks; health; and culture.

·         Work carried out to date by the Partnership included: ecological restoration work at Deptford Green; promotion of green roofs; three rivers clean up; river corridor improvements.

·         Other work of the partnership included: policies through the Local Development Framework to enhance biodiversity; published biodiversity guidance for planning application; and generating and submitting regional data on species.

·         The Partnership had engaged with over 70,000 people and carried out 861 guided walks, 1427 school education events, installed 333 bat boxes and created 2081 meters of hedgerows since its establishment.

3.2       In response to questions from members of the Committee, the following key points were raised:

·         The main challenges for the partnership were financial resources and continuing to engage the  public and local groups.

·         Grounds maintenance of Lewisham Homes properties could be an area to look at further. If local residents were interested they could contact the Ecological Regeneration Manager for support and possibly part funding for schemes to improve the biodiversity on green spaces on Council estates.

·         One third of the greenspace in Lewisham was back gardens and this therefore represented a challenge in maintaining and enhancing this land to promote biodiversity. Education on encouraging a wildlife ethos was important in achieving this.

·         Park user groups had been consulted with and contributed to the Biodiversity Action Plan.

·         If parks management was given over to community groups, it would be beneficial if they were required to promote the aims and objectives in the biodiversity action plan.

·         Greenspace Information for Greater London (GIGL), hold data on species details and numbers across London. This includes details of the number of Dutch Elm trees.

·         IT and data management was a challenge for the team and currently the data was largely held with GIGL.

·         Photovoltaics on green roofs were being promoted. The planning department requested cross-sections of proposed green roofs at application stage. 

·         The Committee noted that they felt that paragraph 3.3 point a. of the report to Mayor and Cabinet, quoting the Local Development Framework, should include the word “enhancing” to read: “protecting and enhancing all open space including Metropolitan Open Land. The Local Development Framework had already been agreed and adopted but the Committee’s comments were noted.

·         It was a challenge to find suitable sites for street trees. Additional work on this could be undertaken, possibly with Section 106 or Community Infrastructure Levy money. There could however be obstacles to increasing numbers of street trees such as concerns around on-going maintenance costs and problems with liaison with partners such as TfL.

·         Large developments were encouraged to have lighting strategies thorough the planning process to help protect species from the effects of light pollution.

·         Sites of Nature Conservation (SINC) were under threat from development in parts of the borough. A technical report had been commissioned to survey the borough’s SINC sites and record species data. It was hoped that the results would be able to be used in planning policy to help protect these sites.

·         LB Lewisham had a legacy from Kenneth White to benefit Lewisham nature reserves and there was a commitment to carry out enhancements dedicated to him.

RESOLVED:

1.    That a referral be made to Mayor and Cabinet highlighting the following key points: That

·         The Committee considered the Biodiversity Action Plan to be excellent and recommended to Mayor and Cabinet that it be approved:  

·         Section 106 or Community Infrastructure Levy money be allocated for a borough-wide survey of potential sites for additional street trees and ecological enhancements.

·         As part of the Digital Transformation Programme, consideration be given to how best to support the biodiversity action plan with improved use of IT.

2.    That the Committee be provided with details of the recommendations from the report being carried out on Sites of Nature Conservation Interest (SINC) in Lewisham.

3.    That it be noted that the Committee felt that paragraph 3.3 point a. of the report to Mayor and Cabinet, quoting the Local Development Framework, should say add the word “enhancing” to read: “protecting and enhancing all open space including Metropolitan Open Land”.