Agenda item

To consider a Notice of Motion – The Nature Emergency.  

Full Council received the following motion proposed by Cllr N Ireland, seconded by Cllr C Sutton and supported by Cllr David Taylor, Cllr Mike Baker, Cllr Belinda Bawden, Cllr Dave Bolwell, Cllr Sarah Williams, Cllr Simon Clifford, Cllr Steve Robinson, Cllr Richard Biggs, Cllr Gill Taylor, Cllr Claudia Webb, Cllr Scott Florek, Cllr Duncan Sowry-House, Cllr Kate Wheller, Cllr Louise Bown, Cllr Will Chakawhata, Cllr Andy Canning, Cllr Jack Jeans, Cllr Chris Kippax, Cllr Jon Orrell, Cllr M Bell, Cllr S Holland.

 

Motion narrative and action required

 

This council:                               

  

1.  Declares that there is a nature emergency, recognising: 

a.     That nature is in long term decline and urgent action must be taken to reverse this, that the UK is one of the world's most nature-depleted countries - in the bottom 10% globally and the worst in the G7 - and with only about half its biodiversity left that it is far below the global average; 

b.    That a thriving natural environment underpins a healthy, prosperous society, that it benefits our physical and mental health, feeds us, cleans our air, moderates urban heat, alleviates flooding, absorbs carbon, makes counties like Dorset beautiful and that its survival and diversity is essential to human life; 

c.     That the nature crisis and the climate emergency are intrinsically linked and that the impacts of the climate crisis drive nature’s decline, while restoring nature can help to tackle the climate crisis. 

  

2. Notes the positive work already begun and planned by this council including: 

 

d.   The strategic intent as encapsulated in its Natural Environment, Climate and Ecology strategy, alongside the council’s role as responsible authority for the development of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy for the county of Dorset. 

e.   The work already undertaken to promote biodiversity in the council’s own country parks and greenspaces, farms, highway verges, watercourses, designated areas, woodland, local nature reserves and other natural areas. 

f.    Hosting the Dorset National Landscape Partnership and supporting its nature recovery work with a wide range of stakeholders, including coordinating the Purbeck Heaths National Nature Reserve partnership and the West Dorset Rivers and Coastal Streams catchment, and making significant investments in nature through the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme. 

  

3. Commits to embed nature’s recovery at the heart of all strategic plans, including the forthcoming Dorset local plan, policy areas and decision-making processes, building upon the climate decision-wheel and the Nature Recovery Dorset brand.  

  

4. Having declared a climate emergency in 2019, commits to tackling the climate and nature emergencies together and investing in nature-based solutions to the challenges posed by climate change, including mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to increased climate risk such as flooding and extreme summer heat. 

  

5. Facilitate the development of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Dorset, working with farmers, landowners, businesses, organisations and NGO’s so that there are agreed priorities, opportunities and reportable actions to recover nature across Dorset. 

  

6. Set clear strategic and measurable goals for nature’s recovery by 2030 and its contribution towards mitigating carbon emissions and increasing our resilience to climate change, for example: 

a.   Contributing to the national commitment to protect 30% of land for nature by 2030, in line with the UK’s international commitment to biodiversity and the Natural Environment, Climate and Ecology strategy and set out in the Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Dorset. 

b.  Supporting the Dorset and Cranborne Chase National Landscapes to          meet/exceed their apportionment of the Environmental Improvement Plan targets 

 

c.     Making space for nature and the long-term maintenance and expansion of the Nature Recovery Network. 

d.   Improving biodiversity on Dorset Council land including our farms, highway verge, country parks and other greenspace by, for example        planting trees and hedgerows, lowering soil fertility on verges and encouraging community orchards and the establishment of allotments. 

 

e.   Working with farmers, landowners, town & parish councils and other external partners to improve biodiversity, increase tree cover and woodland, and green our streets.  

 

f.    Remove the use of glyphosate and chemicals damaging to ecosystems/nature where possible. 

g.     Reducing pressure on wildlife and developing wildlife corridors. 

h.     Improving doorstep access to nature, particularly for those from disadvantaged backgrounds and those wards already identified as having the worst access to nature. 

i.     Supporting communities and businesses to make better decisions and take action to support nature’s recovery. 

j.    Developing a strategic perspective on natural flood management solutions, working with key partners and stakeholders.   

 

In presenting the motion the Leader of the Council proposed and set out the following amendment and this was also seconded by Cllr C Sutton.

 

To Delete 6(f)

 

f.        Remove the use of glyphosate and chemicals damaging to ecosystems/nature where possible. 

And replace with

f.        Remove or restrict the use of glyphosate and other chemicals damaging to ecosystems/nature and commit to a glyphosate reduction plan.

And add new paragraph 6(k)

 

k.        Extend the ban on the use of neonicotinoid pesticides on Dorset Council owned land to include new tenancies of our county farm estate.

In accordance with the Procedure Rule 14.3 (a) the Notice of Motion (as amended) was debated and upon being put to the vote the amendment was CARRIED.

Following further debate of the substantive motion, it was proposed by Cllr R Bryan and seconded by Cllr S Flower “that this matter be deferred to a future meeting of Council, until after an all-member webinar had been held and a programme for the proposal had been fully costed.”

Upon being put to the vote the motion to defer was LOST.

EXTENSION OF MEETING BEYOND 3 HOURS (Procedure Rule 8)

In accordance with the Constitution, it was agreed to continue the meeting beyond 3 hours.

The Chair invited members to continue the discussion on the substantive motion and upon being put to the vote the motion was CARRIED

 

Decision (substantive)

 

That this council:                               

  

1.             Declares that there is a nature emergency, recognising: 

 

(a)    That nature is in long term decline and urgent action must be taken to reverse this, that the UK is one of the world's most nature-depleted countries - in the bottom 10% globally and the worst in the G7 - and with only about half its biodiversity left that it is far below the global average; 

(b)   That a thriving natural environment underpins a healthy, prosperous society, that it benefits our physical and mental health, feeds us, cleans our air, moderates urban heat, alleviates flooding, absorbs carbon, makes counties like Dorset beautiful and that its survival and diversity is essential to human life; 

 

(c)   That the nature crisis and the climate emergency are intrinsically linked and that the impacts of the climate crisis drive nature’s decline, while restoring nature can help to tackle the climate crisis. 

  

2.   Notes the positive work already begun and planned by this council including: 

 

(d)   The strategic intent as encapsulated in its Natural Environment, Climate and Ecology strategy, alongside the council’s role as responsible authority for the development of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy for the county of Dorset. 

 

(e)   The work already undertaken to promote biodiversity in the council’s own country parks and greenspaces, farms, highway verges, watercourses, designated areas, woodland, local nature reserves and other natural areas. 

 

(f)    Hosting the Dorset National Landscape Partnership and supporting its nature recovery work with a wide range of stakeholders, including coordinating the Purbeck Heaths National Nature Reserve partnership and the West Dorset Rivers and Coastal Streams catchment, and making significant investments in nature through the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme. 

  

3.              Commits to embed nature’s recovery at the heart of all strategic plans, including the forthcoming Dorset local plan, policy areas and decision-making processes, building upon the climate decision-wheel and the Nature Recovery Dorset brand.  

 

4.             Having declared a climate emergency in 2019, commits to tackling the climate and nature emergencies together and investing in nature-based solutions to the challenges posed by climate change, including mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to increased climate risk such as flooding and extreme summer heat. 

 

5.             Facilitate the development of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Dorset, working with farmers, landowners, businesses, organisations and NGO’s so that there are agreed priorities, opportunities and reportable actions to recover nature across Dorset. 

 

6.             Set clear strategic and measurable goals for nature’s recovery by 2030 and its contribution towards mitigating carbon emissions and increasing our resilience to climate change, for example: 

(a)  Contributing to the national commitment to protect 30% of land for nature by 2030, in line with the UK’s international commitment to biodiversity and the Natural Environment, Climate and Ecology strategy and set out in the Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Dorset. 

 

(b)  Supporting the Dorset and Cranborne Chase National Landscapes to meet/exceed their apportionment of the Environmental Improvement Plan targets.

 

(c)   Making space for nature and the long-term maintenance and expansion of the Nature Recovery Network.

 

(d)  Improving biodiversity on Dorset Council land including our farms, highway verge, country parks and other greenspace by, for example planting trees and hedgerows, lowering soil fertility on verges and encouraging community orchards and the establishment of allotments.

 

 

(e)  Working with farmers, landowners, town & parish councils and other external partners to improve biodiversity, increase tree cover and woodland, and green our streets.  

 

(f)   Remove or restrict the use of glyphosate and other chemicals damaging to ecosystems/nature and commit to a glyphosate reduction plan.

 

 

(g)  Reducing pressure on wildlife and developing wildlife corridors.

 

(h)  Improving doorstep access to nature, particularly for those from disadvantaged backgrounds and those wards already identified as having the worst access to nature. 

 

 

(i)    Supporting communities and businesses to make better decisions and take action to support nature’s recovery. 

 

(j)    Developing a strategic perspective on natural flood management solutions, working with key partners and stakeholders.   

 

(k)  Extend the ban on the use of neonicotinoid pesticides on Dorset Council owned land to include new tenancies of our county farm estate.