Agenda item

Notice Of Motion Regarding "Action on the Nature Emergency" - Given By Councillor Peter Garbutt And To Be Seconded By Councillor Angela Argenzio

That this Council:-

 

(a)      recognises our natural world is struggling from the impact of habitat degradation, urbanisation, consumerism, pollution, industrial agricultural and waste management practices and climate change – all contributing to widespread disruption to the survival and distribution of native species;

 

(b)      recognises and congratulates the excellent work by the Ecology Department, supported by the Parks and Countryside Service and partner organisations, being done on Species Specific Projects, as well as Landscape Projects, e.g. Urban Nature Parks and Nature Recovery Networks; and that, in addition, the Council defended the ecology of the Loxley River Valley by providing staff as key expert witnesses in a major planning inquiry, for the people of Sheffield;

 

(c)      in addition, congratulates and thanks all Council departments and employees working on projects and measures that protect and support nature, such as Sustainable Urban Drainage System work on Grey To Green projects, as well as organisations in Sheffield more broadly for their work, such as Hunter's Bar Infant School for their work on their green wall;

 

(d)      declares a nature emergency;

 

(e)      commits to developing a comprehensive Nature Emergency Action Plan (NEAP) for Sheffield, in association with partner organisations;

 

(f)       resolves that the plan will look to connect initiatives and unify the Council’s approach to biodiversity through the NEAP;

 

(g)      requests the Climate Change, Economy and Development Transitional Committee develop the NEAP with input from all departments within the Council, and providing the opportunity for relevant external partner organisations, businesses and community stakeholders to input and collaborate on initiatives where there are benefits to doing so, for example, a wildlife corridor could affect several departments including Transport, Housing and Parks;

 

(h)      recognises that co-operation and communication is key to the success of the Nature Emergency Action Plan and that, from the planning stage to implementation, monitoring and protecting, it is important for the Council to lead initiatives which address the Nature Emergency and have widespread support from the public and local campaign groups;

 

(i)       acknowledges the likely challenges to projects within the NEAP from developers under the current national planning guidelines which severely constrain proper consideration of the Climate and Ecological Emergency, and for this reason, it is imperative that this Council develops robust policies in the Local Plan which can help to protect and enhance biodiversity; and

 

(j)       requests that the Administration ensures relevant staff and all elected members will receive training on biodiversity net gain (BNG) - a vital aspect of the new Environment Bill.

 

 

Minutes:

7.1

It was moved by Councillor Peter Garbutt, and seconded by Councillor Angela Argenzio, that this Council:-

 

 

 

(a)      recognises our natural world is struggling from the impact of habitat degradation, urbanisation, consumerism, pollution, industrial agricultural and waste management practices and climate change – all contributing to widespread disruption to the survival and distribution of native species;

 

(b)      recognises and congratulates the excellent work by the Ecology Department, supported by the Parks and Countryside Service and partner organisations, being done on Species Specific Projects, as well as Landscape Projects, e.g. Urban Nature Parks and Nature Recovery Networks; and that, in addition, the Council defended the ecology of the Loxley River Valley by providing staff as key expert witnesses in a major planning inquiry, for the people of Sheffield;

 

(c)      in addition, congratulates and thanks all Council departments and employees working on projects and measures that protect and support nature, such as Sustainable Urban Drainage System work on Grey To Green projects, as well as organisations in Sheffield more broadly for their work, such as Hunter's Bar Infant School for their work on their green wall;

 

(d)      declares a nature emergency;

 

(e)      commits to developing a comprehensive Nature Emergency Action Plan (NEAP) for Sheffield, in association with partner organisations;

 

(f)       resolves that the plan will look to connect initiatives and unify the Council’s approach to biodiversity through the NEAP;

 

(g)      requests the Climate Change, Economy and Development Transitional Committee develop the NEAP with input from all departments within the Council, and providing the opportunity for relevant external partner organisations, businesses and community stakeholders to input and collaborate on initiatives where there are benefits to doing so, for example, a wildlife corridor could affect several departments including Transport, Housing and Parks;

 

(h)      recognises that co-operation and communication is key to the success of the Nature Emergency Action Plan and that, from the planning stage to implementation, monitoring and protecting, it is important for the Council to lead initiatives which address the Nature Emergency and have widespread support from the public and local campaign groups;

 

(i)       acknowledges the likely challenges to projects within the NEAP from developers under the current national planning guidelines which severely constrain proper consideration of the Climate and Ecological Emergency, and for this reason, it is imperative that this Council develops robust policies in the Local Plan which can help to protect and enhance biodiversity; and

 

(j)       requests that the Administration ensures relevant staff and all elected members will receive training on biodiversity net gain (BNG) - a vital aspect of the new Environment Bill.

 

 

7.2

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Barbara Masters, seconded by Councillor Tim Huggan, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the addition of new paragraphs (k) to (o) as follows:-

 

 

 

(k)      acknowledges that the work done to promote biodiversity and sustainability in Sheffield over a number of years by the various organisations, formal and informal, working with and within the Council, provides a solid base on which to build, for example the tree planting in Bolehills done in conjunction with local groups and the park rangers;

 

 

 

(l)       recognises that top down measures must be balanced by input from the bottom up such as the initiative to allow residents to take over the management of grass verges close to their home; and the Council should review the range of measures that have been introduced by wildlife organisations, volunteer groups and Council departments to inform future plans;

 

 

 

(m)     calls for consultation with the wider community in recognition of the need for widespread public support and engagement with any initiative proposed under the NEAP;

 

 

 

(n)      recognises that changes called for will have a greater impact on the livelihoods of people working in certain sectors such as those involving land use, whether for food production or leisure use, and calls for the development of new job opportunities as part of the NEAP to help people and businesses make the transitions necessary under the NEAP; and

 

 

 

(o)      calls on Local Area Committees to allocate a funding stream specifically for nature projects.

 

 

7.3

It was then moved by Councillor Bernard Little, seconded by Councillor Paul Turpin, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the addition of paragraphs (k) to (w) as follows:-

 

 

 

(k)      looks forward to Sheffield’s green spaces, parks, riversides and verges becoming havens and corridors for wildlife and future proofing as the climate changes through landscape management changes, such as changed mowing regimes and reduced use of chemicals, air pollution reduction and sympathetic planting choices;

 

 

 

(l)       recognises that the success of natural areas to prosper is enhanced by the active engagement of both formal and informal neighbourhood groups taking a role in their care;

 

 

 

(m)     understands the multi-faceted ways nature plays in community building, recreation, physical and mental health, scientific discovery, literature and art and lasting economic prosperity;

 

 

 

(n)      recognises that both individual and communal gardens and orchards play a key role in encouraging wildlife and connection to nature;

 

 

 

(o)      understands that good design of the built environment can help anchor wildlife in urban spaces and believes that this should be addressed fully in the local plan;

 

 

 

(p)      reminds the Council that there are many people who take an interest in wildlife;

 

 

 

(q)      recognises that the terms Nature, Ecological and Biodiversity can be and are often used interchangeably by people and, for the purpose of this motion, all mean the same thing;

 

 

 

(r)       recognises that the Climate and Nature emergencies are intrinsically linked with each other and also to social justice; and by building a better world to deal with the Climate and Ecological Emergency we will also be building a better society;

 

 

 

(s)      aims for Sheffield to be carbon neutral by 2030;

 

 

 

(t)       resolves to request the Administration to ban the use of harmful pesticides and herbicides such as glyphosate;

 

 

 

(u)      will seek to rewild areas such as grass verges and make sure there are areas for wildlife in our green spaces including but not exclusively for wildlife corridors;

 

 

 

(v)      aims for 100% of waterways to have water quality that supports healthy wildlife by 2030; and

 

 

 

(w)      requests the Administration to provide and recommend resources for businesses to help them understand how their procurement decisions impact ecology in Sheffield, the UK and across the world; such resources include the Natural Capital Protocol and the SHIFT online platform.

 

 

7.4

After contributions from four other Members, and following a right of reply from Councillor Peter Garbutt, the amendment moved by Councillor Barbara Masters was put to the vote and was carried.

 

 

7.5

The amendment moved by Councillor Bernard Little was then put to the vote and was also carried.

 

 

7.6

The original Motion, as amended, was then put as a Substantive Motion in the following form and carried:-

 

 

 

RESOLVED: That this Council:-

 

 

 

(a)      recognises our natural world is struggling from the impact of habitat degradation, urbanisation, consumerism, pollution, industrial agricultural and waste management practices and climate change – all contributing to widespread disruption to the survival and distribution of native species;

         

(b)      recognises and congratulates the excellent work by the Ecology Department, supported by the Parks and Countryside Service and partner organisations, being done on Species Specific Projects, as well as Landscape Projects, e.g. Urban Nature Parks and Nature Recovery Networks; and that, in addition, the Council defended the ecology of the Loxley River Valley by providing staff as key expert witnesses in a major planning inquiry, for the people of Sheffield;

         

(c)      in addition, congratulates and thanks all Council departments and employees working on projects and measures that protect and support nature, such as Sustainable Urban Drainage System work on Grey To Green projects, as well as organisations in Sheffield more broadly for their work, such as Hunter's Bar Infant School for their work on their green wall;

         

(d)      declares a nature emergency;

         

(e)      commits to developing a comprehensive Nature Emergency Action Plan (NEAP) for Sheffield, in association with partner organisations;

 

 

 

(f)       resolves that the plan will look to connect initiatives and unify the Council’s approach to biodiversity through the NEAP;

         

(g)      requests the Climate Change, Economy and Development Transitional Committee develop the NEAP with input from all departments within the Council, and providing the opportunity for relevant external partner organisations, businesses and community stakeholders to input and collaborate on initiatives where there are benefits to doing so, for example, a wildlife corridor could affect several departments including Transport, Housing and Parks;

         

(h)      recognises that co-operation and communication is key to the success of the Nature Emergency Action Plan and that, from the planning stage to implementation, monitoring and protecting, it is important for the Council to lead initiatives which address the Nature Emergency and have widespread support from the public and local campaign groups;

         

(i)       acknowledges the likely challenges to projects within the NEAP from developers under the current national planning guidelines which severely constrain proper consideration of the Climate and Ecological Emergency, and for this reason, it is imperative that this Council develops robust policies in the Local Plan which can help to protect and enhance biodiversity;

 

 

 

(j)       requests that the Administration ensures relevant staff and all elected members will receive training on biodiversity net gain (BNG) - a vital aspect of the new Environment Bill;

         

(k)      acknowledges that the work done to promote biodiversity and sustainability in Sheffield over a number of years by the various organisations, formal and informal, working with and within the Council, provides a solid base on which to build, for example the tree planting in Bolehills done in conjunction with local groups and the park rangers;

         

(l)       recognises that top down measures must be balanced by input from the bottom up such as the initiative to allow residents to take over the management of grass verges close to their home; and the Council should review the range of measures that have been introduced by wildlife organisations, volunteer groups and Council departments to inform future plans;

         

(m)     calls for consultation with the wider community in recognition of the need for widespread public support and engagement with any initiative proposed under the NEAP;

         

(n)      recognises that changes called for will have a greater impact on the livelihoods of people working in certain sectors such as those involving land use, whether for food production or leisure use, and calls for the development of new job opportunities as part of the NEAP to help people and businesses make the transitions necessary under the NEAP;

 

 

 

(o)      calls on Local Area Committees to allocate a funding stream specifically for nature projects;

         

(p)      looks forward to Sheffield’s green spaces, parks, riversides and verges becoming havens and corridors for wildlife and future proofing as the climate changes through landscape management changes, such as changed mowing regimes and reduced use of chemicals, air pollution reduction and sympathetic planting choices;

         

(q)      recognises that the success of natural areas to prosper is enhanced by the active engagement of both formal and informal neighbourhood groups taking a role in their care;

         

(r)       understands the multi-faceted ways nature plays in community building, recreation, physical and mental health, scientific discovery, literature and art and lasting economic prosperity;

 

 

 

(s)      recognises that both individual and communal gardens and orchards play a key role in encouraging wildlife and connection to nature;

         

(t)       understands that good design of the built environment can help anchor wildlife in urban spaces and believes that this should be addressed fully in the local plan;

         

(u)      reminds the Council that there are many people who take an interest in wildlife;

         

(v)      recognises that the terms Nature, Ecological and Biodiversity can be and are often used interchangeably by people and, for the purpose of this motion, all mean the same thing;

         

(w)      recognises that the Climate and Nature emergencies are intrinsically linked with each other and also to social justice; and by building a better world to deal with the Climate and Ecological Emergency we will also be building a better society;

 

 

 

(x)      aims for Sheffield to be carbon neutral by 2030;

         

(y)      resolves to request the Administration to ban the use of harmful pesticides and herbicides such as glyphosate;

         

(z)      will seek to rewild areas such as grass verges and make sure there are areas for wildlife in our green spaces including but not exclusively for wildlife corridors;

         

(aa)    aims for 100% of waterways to have water quality that supports healthy wildlife by 2030; and

         

(bb)    requests the Administration to provide and recommend resources for businesses to help them understand how their procurement decisions impact ecology in Sheffield, the UK and across the world; such resources include the Natural Capital Protocol and the SHIFT online platform.