Agenda and minutes

Any apologies for absence that have been received will be noted at this point.

Cllr Brown welcomed members - and members of the public - to the first public-facing Env Panel. He explained that there is no legal requirement for panels to exist, but Chichester District Council uses them to debate issues and to make recommendations. They are advisory in nature.

Apologies were received from Cllr Burton, Cllr Chilton, Cllr Hobbs and Cllr Todhunter.

Details of members’ other interests arising from their membership of parish councils or West Sussex County Council or from their being Chichester District Council or West Sussex County Council appointees to outside organisations or members of outside bodies or from being employees of such organisations or bodies. Such interests are hereby disclosed by each member in respect of agenda items where the Council or outside body concerned has been consulted in respect of that item. Declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests, other interests and prejudicial interests are to be made by members of the Environment Panel in respect of matters on the agenda or this meeting.

Cllr Johnson declared that he is a member of the Harbour Conservancy Board.

The Panel is requested to consider the report and appendix and make the following recommendation:

That the Panel approve the initial consideration exercise for publication and note the future reporting requirement of the enhanced Biodiversity Duty.

Mr Day explained that there is an enhancement on existing duties to report back on biodiversity, and to agree policies by 2026. There is a new national system to identify relevant policies and to take Natural England’s work into account. He added that enhanced duty does not come with enhanced power, and that there should be an emphasis on partnership to secure sources of funding, without imposing on landowners. Mr Day stated that there is no additional funding from the government or any guarantee of ongoing funding. He explained that flood management co-benefits with biodiversity management.

Cllr Brown reiterated that this document is about scoping the work, not yet detailing solutions.

Cllr Young asked if there is an overlap between strategic wildlife and Coastal Partners’ work. He explained that residents understand the relationship between flooding and biodiversity, and asked who is responsible for flood protection.

Cllr Brown clarified that West Sussex County Council is the responsible flood authority and noted his aim to continue to look to find resolutions to flooding.

Ms Box explained that there is a need to incorporate rivers into coastal plans and that Coastal Partners focuses specifically on the coast. More stakeholders and partnerships are getting involved.

Cllr Johnson stated the importance of strategic wildlife corridors and gathering numbers on species.

The Panel then voted on the recommendation which was agreed unanimously.

The Panel is requested to consider the report and appendix and make the following recommendation:

That Environment Panel recommend to Cabinet;

Approval of submission of a business case to the Environment Agency for Grant in Aid (GiA) funding to develop an Investment and Adaptation Plan for Chichester Harbour.

Preparation and delivery of a Chichester Harbour Investment and Adaptation Plan to help strengthen the resilience of the communities and environment of Chichester Harbour to flooding and coastal change to the year 2100 and beyond if GiA funding is secured.

Cllr Brown outlined that current policies on coastal protection are out of date - climate change means that there is need to think differently about sea defences, to include the public in plans, to think about protection of people and property and increase the resilience of natural environment. They're both important objectives. They can complement each other, but there is also the potential for conflict if it is not made an inclusive process.

Mr Stratton outlined that Coastal Partners is a risk management authority that focuses primarily on coastal erosion. He added that Environment Agency home protection proportionality means that funding allocation techniques have not yet caught up with current issues.

Ms Box introduced her report by stating that Chichester Harbour is an important site for wildlife. Habitats are currently being squeezed across both the Chichester District and Havant area and are currently in a process of degradation. Two erosion management strategies have been created, but there is no strategy plan from Emsworth to East Head. She confirmed that people and places are at the heart of strategy coordination and by 2030, the organisation hopes to strengthen the resilience of communities against flood degradation. Communities and stakeholders participate in these strategies. £1.4 million of Environment Agency funding has been sought to develop plans managed by Costal Partners and Havant Borough Council over the next three years. This includes encouraging locals to get involved. Some risks and challenges are to be expected, including the fact that other financial contributions may be required, and there is a need to manage expectations, as not everyone can be protected. She added that embracing adaptation in its many forms should be encouraged. The balance between communities and the environment is equally weighted, with a focus on the interactions between communities and nature and bringing communities on board. She then explained that the project would need approval from the Environment Agency Large Project Review Group. Although the response is unknown so far feedback has been positive.

Mr Holder wished to note that in the next one hundred years sea levels are expected to rise by up to a metre. He reiterated the struggles with funding and regulations.

Cllr Johnson gave support to the project being progressed.

The Panel then voted on the recommendation which was agreed unanimously.

The Panel is requested to note the following workplan.

The Panel noted the workplan.

The Environment Panel will consider any late items as announced by the Chairman under Agenda Item 1.

Minutes from the meeting held Wednesday 29 November 2023 were approved.

The Panel is requested to note that the next Environment Panel meeting will be held on Monday 4 March 2024 at 9.30am in East Pallant House Committee Rooms.

The Panel noted that the date of the next meeting is Monday 4 March 2024 at 9.30am in East Pallant House Committee Rooms.