Agenda, decisions and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

None.

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City & County of Swansea, no interests were declared.

To approve & sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record.

Approved.

Resolved that the Minutes of the Climate Change and Nature Recovery Service Transformation Committee held on 11 December 2023 be approved and signed as a correct record.

Approved.

Councillor D H Hopkins, Deputy Leader / Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Performance introduced the report, which was scheduled to be reported to Council on 21 March 2024 and was a Corporate Priority for the Authority.

Paul Meller, Natural Environment Section Manager presented a report which sought approval of the draft Section 6 Biodiversity Duty Action Plan for Swansea. (2023-2025).

It was explained that the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 (Part 1) Section 6 Biodiversity and Resilience of Ecosystems Duty which required that: ‘A public authority must seek to maintain and enhance biodiversity in the exercise of functions in relation to Wales, and in so doing promote the resilience of ecosystems, so far as consistent with the proper exercise of those functions’.

Swansea Council had a legal duty to report to the Welsh Government every 3 years outlining actions undertaken to comply with the Statutory Biodiversity Duty. 

The draft Section 6 action plan at Appendix A provided the actions the Council proposed to take between now and December 2025 to meet its obligations under its Biodiversity Duty to maintain and enhance biodiversity and contribute to the Welsh Governments 30x 30 targets for nature recovery.

The actions set out under the six key objectives of the Nature Recovery Action Plan for Wales Nature Recovery Action Plan (NRAP) for Wales and the Swansea Local Nature Recovery Action Plan were provided.

Mark Barber, Biodiversity Officer noted that the ongoing actions were dependent upon staff resources and Welsh Government funding, which would currently be provided up to 2025.

The Committee discussed the following: -

·       The need to include working with schools to support the delivery of biodiversity and green infrastructure enhancements within school grounds.

·       Making Community and Town Councils aware of the report. It was noted that a presentation was being made to the Community and Town Councils Forum on 4 March 2024 and that it was the responsibility of each council to formulate its own plan.

·       The Council’s legal responsibilities in respect of water, soil and air pollution, how it collaborates with other organisations, e.g. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and how including issues within the plan would hopefully provide more funding towards tackling pollution.

·       The positive inclusion of active travel within the plan.

·       Providing a more detailed plan linking all the broad actions together which will include contributing to Welsh Government’s  30x 30 biodiversity targets.

·       The key importance of nature recovery.

·       The importance of its inclusion within the Corporate Plan and collaboration going forward.

·       Changing legislation being introduced to strengthen biodiversity regarding the planning process.

·       The importance of sustainable drainage.

·       The changes being introduced within the replacement Local Development Plan.

Resolved that: -

1)    The Draft Section 6 Biodiversity Duty Action Plan for Swansea Council be approved and forwarded to Council for adoption.

2)    Adding working with schools to support the delivery of biodiversity and green infrastructure enhancements within school grounds be added to the Plan being reported to Council.

Noted.

The Chair presented an updated Work Plan report.

She noted that the Public EV Charging Strategy remained as an outstanding item and would confirm if Scrutiny were looking at the topic.

Resolved that the contents of the report be noted.