Agenda and draft minutes

To appoint a Vice-Chair for the remainder of the municipal year.

RESOLVED:  That Councillor Dark be appointed as Vice-Chair

None

Please indicate if there are any interests which should be declared.  A declaration of an interest should indicate the nature of the interest (if not already declared on the Register of Interests) and the agenda item to which it relates.  If a disclosable pecuniary interest is declared, the Members should withdraw from the room whilst the matter is discussed.

These declarations apply to all Members present, whether the Member is part of the meeting, attending to speak as a local Member on an item or simply observing the meeting.

None

To consider any business which, by reason of special circumstances, the Chair proposes to accept as urgent under Section 100(b)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act, 1972.

None

Assistant Director S Ashworth introduced Claire Wiggs, Senior Ecologist to the Task Group.  He explained the background to the Group which had arisen following a Notice of Motion to Council in September 2020, and recommendations from the Urban Wildlife Group in 2022 and consideration of the Council’s requirements under the  Environment Act 2021 which required that public authorities who operated in England, including councils and local planning authorities, must consider what they can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity in England.  

The Task Group considered the draft Terms of Reference.  Councillor Bullen encouraged that the Council should not do only what was required of it, but aspire to do above what was required of it.  He reminded members that the Urban Wildlife Groups recommendations were beyond bio diversity.

RESOLVED:   That the Terms of Reference be noted.

The Assistant Director, S Ashworth had prepared a draft workplan for the Task Group to consider.  The next meeting was to consider the recommendations of the Urban Wildlife Informal Working Group which had been referred to this group for consideration and incorporation wherever possible and consideration as to how to signpost and share the information with communities and businesses.  The communications process was to be  considered and discussed.

Councillor Bullen urged speed of consideration as the 2024 bird breeding season would be starting in a few weeks time.

Councillor Dark asked for an overview of the requirements of the Council’s under the legislation on the subject.  He also suggested that wherever work was being done by partner organisations that they be tapped into to ensure it could be dove tailed.   Suggestions were made of Norfolk County Council, Norfolk Wildlife Trust and others.  It was agreed to share contacts for relevant organisations/ and or Groups with officers.  He also suggested that care had to be taken not to delay the recommendations coming out of the Group, but also that some may require budgetary allocation which may take some time to receive funding. 

It was noted that there would be information given to the group on each matter as it was considered.

RESOLVED:  That the work programme be agreed.

RESOLVED:   It was agreed that future meetings be scheduled at around 6 weekly intervals and dates brought to the next meeting.