Agenda item

The Development Plan and Infrastructure Panel are requested to consider the attached report and appendices, and make the proposed recommendation;

Recommendation;

That Development Plan and Infrastructure Panel recommend to Cabinet that the Bird Aware Partnership’s revised Bird Aware Strategy is approved for use in the determination of relevant planning applications

The Chairman invited Mrs Potts introduced the report.

Mrs Potts informed the Panel that the revised strategy followed a comprehensive independent review of Bird Aware Solent and took into account the Breeding Bird Study. The Breeding Bird Study had been undertaken to identify if any further mitigation was required for summer breeding birds.

Mrs Potts informed the Panel the revised strategy and updated financial model had both been endorsed by the Partnership for South Hampshire (PfSH).

Mrs Potts highlighted the key changes to the revised strategy, which included;

-       The extended duration of the strategy from 2034 to 2050 to support emerging Local Plans. Mrs Potts explained some remodelling had been required due to the extended period and the number of dwellings requiring mitigation.

-       The strategy had also been extended to provide mitigation for summer breeding birds and not just for overwintering birds. Natural England supported this proposal as detailed in Appendix C.

-       Increase in staff from 10 to 19.

The revised strategy was supported by a financial review and updated financial model. This had been done to ensure the level of contributions from new development were sufficient to cover the operational costs of the scheme and to build up the ‘in-perpetuity’ fund. The updated model showed there was no requirement to increase developer contributions other than annual inflationary rise.

Mrs Potts explained there had been an amendment to the zones of influence, this had been done due to the differences between the areas for breeding birds and overwintering birds. Two separate charging schedules had been developed to ensure areas where no breeding bird mitigation was required were not over charged. Mrs Potts confirmed Chichester was in a zone which did require breeding bird mitigation; the flat rate per dwelling was £777.

Mrs Potts advised the Panel there would be a period to notify developers and other stakeholders of the changes to the strategy and charging schedule. Guidance on the council website would also be updated to refer to the revised strategy. Regarding the Local Plan Examination, a Habitats Regulation Assessment note had been produced and submitted to the Local Plan Inspectors (the note could be viewed on the examination webpage).

Officers responded to comments and questions as follows;

On the matter of housing number assumptions; Mrs Potts confirmed the housing numbers were extrapolated from current and emerging Local Plans and the required contributions based on those numbers to ensure the strategy was adequately funded in perpetuity. This was to ensure the expected development would meet the requirement for mitigation. Any speculative development with a zone would still be required to pay the contribution in addition. She clarified the figures did not mean there was a ‘cap’ on the amount of development within an area.

Responding to concerns regarding people’s behaviour around controlled spaces; Mrs Potts acknowledged the concerns raised. However, she explained the mitigation was partly aimed at changing people’s behaviour and raising awareness; and with regards to the breeding birds, it may be that more project specific mitigation such as preventing access to certain areas was required.

Mrs Potts explained there was a lot of monitoring built into the strategy to oversee what success the project was having.

Mr Frost reminded the Panel that the scheme was subject to five-yearly reviews and was an iterative process. In addition, there was the potential for the Council to consider when the PSPO’s were reviewed whether there was any evidence for and merit in extending them into the protection zones.

Mrs Potts explained the purpose of the review was to understand and evaluate what was working and what was not, full details were included within Appendix A and in the Review document on the Bird Aware website.

Regarding the monitoring methodology; Mr Whitty explained the key indicators were not based on the numbers of breeding birds, for example, as there were other factors which may influence their success such as climate change. The analysis was primarily based on the success rangers had with engaging with people.

Mr Potts confirmed Mr Peter Hughes of the Chichester Harbour Conservancy was a member of both the Project Board and Steering Group.

Regarding the funding of additional mitigation projects; Mrs Potts explained that part of the funding would be used for funding small scale projects which agencies such as the Council could propose. Bigger projects would also be considered if it were felt there was a need. In addition, Mr Whitty reminded the Panel it was not just the council who could suggest projects, there were a number of other groups within the Harbour who could put projects forward. For the purpose of the Local Plan, the strategy delivered the required mitigation for the number of houses.

Mr Frost informed the Panel of the proposed Chichester Harbour Investment and Adaptation Plan which through Coastal Partners was looking for funding from the Environment Agency (EA) to support ways to address issues such as coastal squeeze.

Following a vote, the Panel agreed to support the report recommendation.

Resolved; That the Development Plan and Infrastructure Panel recommend to Cabinet that the Bird Aware Partnership’s revised Bird Aware Strategy is approved for use in the determination of relevant planning applications.