Issue - meetings

To consider the recommendation that the Council sign up to the West Midlands Biodiversity Pledge.

(Report attached)

RECOMMENDED that

Redditch Borough Council sign the West Midlands Biodiversity Pledge to assist in meeting its duties under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act (NERC) 2006.

(A Member requested that Council be recommended to support the 10:10 initiative to reduce carbon emissions by 10% by the end of 2010.  The Chair replied that although she agreed that there was support in principle for the initiative, a final decision would not be made until further information, in the form of a report to this Committee, had been made.)

The Committee received a report that informed it about the West Midlands Biodiversity Pledge (WMBP) and the Council’s duties under the National Environmental and Rural Communities Act (2006).  Approval was sought for the Council to become signatories to the Pledge.

Members were informed that the West Midlands Biodiversity Partnership and the West Midlands Local Government Association have been jointly promoting the WMBP as a means of raising awareness of the duties imposed on Local Authorities in Section 40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act (2006), commonly known as the Biodiversity Duty. 

By signing the pledge Redditch Borough Council would be acknowledging:

a)                 that biodiversity and the natural environment play a vital role in enhancing wellbeing and quality of life;

b)                 the Council’s duty under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act (2006) to have regard to the purpose of conserving biodiversity in carrying out its functions;

c)                  the social, health, environmental and economic benefits which come from biodiversity;

d)                 the opportunities for Local Government to lead the drive to conserve and enhance biodiversity at a local level.

Officers reported that all Local Authorities in the West Midlands Region had been invited to become signatories to the Pledge and that by the end of January fifteen Local Authorities had done so.

A Member requested that Council be recommended to support the 10:10 initiative to reduce carbon emissions by 10% by the end of 2010.  The Chair replied that although she agreed that there was support in principle for the initiative, a final decision would not be made until further information, in the form of a report to this Committee, had been made.

RECOMMENDED that

Redditch Borough Council sign the West Midlands Biodiversity Pledge to assist in meeting its duties under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act (NERC) 2006.