Agenda item

Having complied with the advance written notice requirement in Standing Order 18.1 and the subject requirement in Standing Order 18.2 of the Chichester District Council Constitution the attached motion will be proposed by Cllr Sharp and if duly seconded it will then be discussed at this meeting.

The Chairman invited Mrs Sharp to move her motion. Mrs Sharp moved her motion which was seconded by Miss Barrie.

 

Mrs Sharp then outlined her motion below:

 

1)    Trees

 

The Council is requested to note:

 

·               The importance of trees in slowing the pace of climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen into the air, as well as providing a habitat for wildlife

·               The contribution trees make to the environment in our towns including shading and cooling, pollution and noise mitigation, as well speeding up floodwater drainage and improving the quality of our street scene

·               The Government’s pledge in 2018 to plant 11 million new trees by 2050, including in towns and urban areas

 

In support of the national campaign to increase the number of trees being planted, the Council is requested to:

 

1.    Appoint a District Tree Champion

2.    Agree a review of current policies on and attitude towards the planting of trees in our rural and urban area with a view to introducing a more proactive policy to increase the number and regularity of trees planted

3.    Recommend West Sussex County Council consider a strategy to educate children in understanding the benefits of trees and tree planting

4.    Recommend an urgent Tree Summit with the City Council, Parish Councils, District Council and County Council, BID and the Tree Wardens and members of the public to work out how to plant more trees

5.    Recommend officers investigate funding streams to enable residents and community groups to fund the planting and future maintenance of trees

 

2)   Wildflowers to support pollinators

 

The District Council is responsible for various areas of land in the district (for example New Park and Priory Park). The way in which the council’s teams manage this land which is under our control as a District Council assets has an impact on wildlife and amenity. Being cut several times each year means grass is cut before many wildflower plants have had a chance to flower. Wildflowers need to be available for insects when in flower and to be left long enough to have seeded before being cut. Cutting regimes should be timed to allow wildflower areas to self-perpetuate and improve the wildlife value of the land.

 

The Council is therefore requested to:

 

1.    Review and reduce the timing and frequency of grass cutting across the district to increase biodiversity and manage some of our land as wildlife habitats

2.    Work with partners to produce a pollinator action plan to guide cutting contracts and communicate the resulting plan and reasons to residents

 

3)   Pesticide Free District

 

The Council is requested to:

 

1.    Formally congratulate the Property Manager of the City Council on limiting the use of dangerous chemicals which could endanger the health of the City Council employees and the wider public

2.    Recommend that the Property Manager coordinates a city wide reduction in the use of pesticides

3.    Recommend that the City Council consider joining the Pesticide Free Towns Network which envisions minimised use of pesticides by replacing them with sustainable alternatives

 

In line with the Pesticide Free Towns Network the Council is requested to:

 

·         Ban the use of herbicides and pesticides in public areas under council’s control

·         Help extend the ban of pesticides and herbicides to private areas with public access and agricultural areas next to where citizens live

·         Support the greening efforts towards local biodiversity enhancement already being championed by Transition Chichester

·         Develop and promote a campaign aimed at informing citizens about the transition to become pesticide-free, and the reasons for it; encourage citizens to actively support the transition by promoting the use of sustainable alternatives in private gardens and allotments

·         Communicate with and involve all stakeholders

·         Increase local biodiversity through municipal and citizen-driven activities

 

4)   Green bus stops

 

The Council is requested to work with Stagecoach, Parish and County Councils to consider initiating the use of Green roofs for bus stops. We recommend that sedum or other plants are used on the roofs of bus stops to attract more bees as pollinators, provide more plants to improve air quality and to be a visible sign that the District Council is actively reducing our collective carbon footprint.

 

5)   Greening Flower offer in the park displays

 

The Council is requested to encourage more sustainable forms of planting by:

 

·         Drought resistance planting

·         Using pollinator friendly planting to encourage bees

·         Using locally grown flowers instead of plants from abroad

·         Using native plants

·         Using perennials and wildflowers as much as possible to draw the public’s attention to the importance of supporting native species and encouraging bees

 

6)   Advice to Planning Applicants

 

The Council is requested to recommend to the Planning Department that it sends out a list of ideas that all new applicants for planning can use to “green” their applications by introducing environmental measures such as habitats for hedgehogs, wildflower planting, protecting and increasing bat corridors, installing green roofs or walls or using permeable paving, harvesting rainwater to water the garden, changing power providers to renewables, installing bat and bird boxes, planting trees to support bat corridors and provide shade, less rigorous grass cutting regimes. Councillors are invited to view the advice given to residents in the South Downs National Park.

 

The Chairman invited Mrs Plant to respond as the Cabinet member for Environment. Mrs Plant thanked Mrs Sharp for her motions. She explained that the environment is high on the council’s agenda and as such many of the suggestions are already in progress.

 

Mrs Plant added that some of the matters raised are not matters for Council to determine but are either operational Executive matters or matters which Full Council has already established within the terms of reference for the Development Plan and Infrastructure Panel (DPIP).  As such, Mrs Plant recommended referring the suggestions to the relevant decision making body for debate. Mrs Plant then addressed each point in turn as follows:

 

1. The importance of trees. 

 

Mrs Plant explained that while the intentions are positive, the practicalities of operational delivery need to be explored further such as how this would be resourced, and ownership issues in relation to residents and community groups planting trees on land that may not be in their or our ownership would need to be explored.

 

 

 

 

2. Wild flowers.

 

Mrs Plant explained that she is supportive of the approach and confirmed that in recent years the council had established new wildlife areas as well as areas of parks that are subject to a reduced mowing regime. The council continues to look at sites where mowing can be further reduced.  With regards to the introduction of a pollinator action plan she explained that it is important to remain mindful as to how it would be resourced and delivered.

 

3. Pesticide free District.

 

Mrs Plant explained that the council could not determine whether Chichester City Council should join the Pesticide Free Towns Network. She added that CDC have reduced the use of pesticides and herbicides over recent years to a minimum and share an ambition to go pesticide free. With regard to fine turf maintenance (bowls and cricket) where a high standard of playing surface is required further discussion would be need as to go pesticide free could result in a lower standard of playing surface which may not be acceptable to the clubs that use the facilities.  She explained that officers continue to keep an eye on industry developments and hope a solution to can be found which could be adopted.

 

Mrs Plant confirmed that although she supported the remaining points under this heading in principle consideration would need to be given to resource and delivery as they will require a districtwide multi-agency approach.

 

4. Green Bus stops.

 

Mrs Plant confirmed her support of the intention but explained that the work would need to be given to the bus stop owners to consider how it could be resourced.

 

5. Greening Flower offer in the park displays.

 

Mrs Plant confirmed that the council no longer plant seasonal displays (as of six years ago). The council’s flower beds contain sustainable plants such as Echinacea, Lavender, Sedum and Heather. The council is also tolerant of weeds in bedding such as dandelions and allows them to remain during their pollinating period. Mrs Plant clarified that this should be referred to the Parks Strategy Task and Finish group for review.

 

6.    Advice to Planning Applicants

 

Mrs Taylor then responded to the final planning related point. She explained that the council already provides advice on how to implement beneficial ecological and environmental measures within the Environmental Protection section of the website.  The advice is available to applicants in drawing up their proposals, although it is not mandatory for such measures to be implemented.  Current Local Plan policy requires proposals that may have a negative impact on protected ecological interests to mitigate for this impact, but not to implement greater ecological improvements than that. Mrs Taylor warned that further advice that implies that the council has greater control within the CDC Plan Area than it does risks unrealistically raises expectations. The council is unable to insist on such provision within CDC Planning Applications without a current relevant planning policy in place.  Any such aspiration should be drawn out and tested through the Local Plan Review process.

 

The South Downs National Park Authority advice that is referenced in the motion relates to Ecosystems Services. The advice is technical information to support implementation of their new Policy in the recently adopted South Downs National Park Local Plan.  In dealing with applications on behalf of the South Downs National Park Authority CDC planning officers need to ensure that planning applications meet the requirements of the Ecosystems Services policy and have regard to this technical advice in doing so.

 

Mrs Plant then proposed a counter motion as follows which was seconded by Mrs Lintill:

 

That points 1-5 be referred to the Environment Panel and point 6 be referred to the Development Plan and Infrastructure Panel.

 

Mr Brown then proposed a counter motion as follows which was seconded by Mr Moss:

 

That the motion presented in Section 19 to be treated as a report to Council.

 

That the report presented in Section 19 of the agenda be noted and the Council’s full support for the aims set out in it be confirmed.

 

That item 1 (Trees) be noted and agreed, subject to the following clarifications:

 

·         The District Tree Champion to be appointed by the Council.

·         Review to be channelled through the Environment Panel.

·         Remit of Tree Summit to be expanded to include hedgerows.

·         Investigation to be channelled through the Environment Panel.

 

That item 2 (Wildflowers) be noted and agreed, subject to the following clarifications:

 

·         Review to be channelled through the Environment Panel.

·         Pollinator Action Plan to be developed through the Environment Panel.

 

That item 3 (Pesticides) to be referred in its entirety to the Environment Panel.

 

That item 4 (Bus Stops) be noted and agreed for consideration, with the Environment Panel leading on behalf of the Council.

 

That item 5 (Sustainable Planting) be noted and agreed.

 

That item 6 (Advice to Planning Applicants) be noted and agreed, with the following additions:

 

·         That Environment Panel be tasked with overseeing the creation of a ‘greened development vision’ which can be communicated to all applicants providing context for the advice and recommendations being given.

·         The vision, accompanying information and advice to include links to sources of information providing more detailed explanations, sources of materials and (if appropriate) contractors and suppliers, to local community conservation groups which may be able to assist, etc.

 

Mr Plowman gave his support to the counter motion from Mr Brown explaining that Chichester City Council is taking a holistic approach. He asked members to consider areas which could be utilised as better locations for trees and drew attention to a BBC energy guide which is available online outlining ways to make changes.

 

Dr O’Kelly gave her support to the counter motion from Mr Brown and urged close working with WSCC.

 

Mrs Lintill explained that she supports the ethos of the motion but through the relevant channel such as the Environment Panel.

 

Mrs Taylor added that the council is very proactive in environmental issues.

 

Mr Brown withdrew his counter motion.

 

Mrs Plant read out her counter motion as follows which was seconded by Mrs Lintill:

 

That points 1-5 be referred to the Environment Panel and point 6 be referred to the Development Plan and Infrastructure Panel.

 

In a show of hands the Council voted in favour.

 

RESOLVED

 

That points 1-5 be referred to the Environment Panel and point 6 be referred to the Development Plan and Infrastructure Panel.