NOTES OF THE BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY STEERING GROUP MEETING -
3 FEBRUARY 2009 AT 10.15 AM
1. Present: Karen Davies
Bill Waller
Paul Candlin
Kate Dewey
2. APOLOGIES
Kathryn Edwards
Naomi Perry
Robert Duff
Claire Waterson
Ali Glasiner
The meeting was poorly attended due to the bad weather and the recent Phytophthora outbreak on Cannock Chase
Robert will no longer attend meetings as he is changing roles to become the Meres and Mosses Officer.
Paul C will check who may replace Robert to be our NE representative in the future
Paul C - add to e-list please Bill.
3. NOTES OF THE LAST MEETING
Planning/biodiversity leaflet - various comments had been received. The leaflet will be completed and printed by mid March, then promoted and circulated. List of ecological consultants - not yet followed up. Kate and Bill to liaise. Planning Obligations SPD - no further information - Naomi to update in advance of/at next meeting. How do other Districts fund biodiversity work? The question was not raised t the NI 197 meeting. A benchmarking exercise has been carried out re resources available to deliver NI 186 on CIO2 emissions. Perhaps this exercise or similar could be done for biodiversity/NI 197. Claire W - what do you think??
The West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy does refer to Angst Standards - look up refer
Is it worth applying for a Green Flag for LNR's ?? KD suggested that it may not be the right time or place to put current effort.
Review of SDAP had been circulated - biodiversity actions mainly positive and achieved. New SD/Climate Change Strategy underway - Bill to attach and circulate the current biodiversity elements of this including action plan for comment please (all if you get a chance).
4. BIODIVERSITY PROGRAMME
Barlaston and Rough Close Common: Work is ongoing to remove scrub and put up bird boxes. Paul C will come and have site visit soon. Fencing is now sorted out.
Ferndown: work is going well there, with meadow restoration underway and proposals to strew Mottey Meadow green hay, plus a seeded area.
Some meadow sites Natural England are working with are being stripped chemically and re-seeded eg Haughton (using herbicide that breaks down rapidly). There are a great variety of methods and several will be trialled at Ferndown - which could be a good study project.
There is an excellent friends of group at Ferndown and an excellent website. KD has asked if SWT would like to use Ferndown as an article in the next SWT magazine.
There is an issue of funding around our LNR's and work is being done to assess what resources are required and where they might come from! The benchmarking exercise referred to above may be relevant.
There is a 'Collation Leaflet' being compiled as part of the work of our Sustainable and Healthy Communities Team, to promote walking; this will incorporate wildlife sites. KD to send out to Paul C and Kate D a summary of what it's all about. Fits well with sustainable communities agenda. Kate mentioned the 'Trent Valley Way', which could be included in too. KD to check. We also offer accredited Volunteer Walk Leader Training via a course consisting of two evening sessions - may be useful for conservation/environmental groups. Contact Karen.
Higher Level Stewardship - this could be promising as a potential funding stream Bill/Karen to action progress on this asap .
SBI resurveying.
LDF requirements have taken over the pot of money for this. We are currently trying to encourage progress on this (WW/KD and include in SD/CC Strategy). Other Districts are undertaking full re-surveys.
RIGS Bill has contacted Dr Richard Waller (at Keele). This is an area we have not concentrated on. Bill has discovered a lot of information exists.
PC to send contact details for geological activity to Bill.
Stone Meadows: Will be looking at potential improvements this summer plus possible management regimes at N Meadow.
S Meadows - A Councillor has suggested re-profiling work could be undertaken and the soil be moved to Walton Health (Bill to ascertain feasibility/poss add to SD/CC Strategy).
Stone Town Council have continued conservation work on Crown Meadows (scrapes etc).
Kingsmead: Problem with a tree falling. Had to close road. Who pays!?
Kingston Pool Covert (South): Ongoing issue of potentially problematic trees.
5. BIODIVERSITY AND PLANNING
Green Infrastructure: Kate has seen current draft 'masterplan' and sees some gaps/shortfalls currently. Bill has had a look at Sue Lawley's copy and we agree there is room for improvement.
KD/Bill will now be directly involved in this and will bring to this Group.
Planning Leaflet - has had good input, now with graphics team and due to be published very soon!!! (Bill).
SWT's Planning Work - SWT are looking for a consistent approach to planning comments Lichfield - Justine is providing training for DC Officers. (Bill to liaise with Justine and find out what they are doing including their strategic work). Lichfield has a new green space strategy c/o John Smith (Bill to follow up/find out).
Could we 'share' equipment between Districts e.g. specialised mowers?
e.g. collecting cuttings after mowing - this could then be composted.
We need to work collaboratively as Districts - what about countrywide collaboration? Could we achieve benefits/targets via the LAA?
(KD/WW/Claire etc) to raise/consider.
Kate's Monitoring Project: Looking at how far comments on planning applications have been followed through. Report available in March, Kate to feedback later / will put results onto BARS too.
Bill to find out how we are checking up on biodiversity conditions/ element he submits. Check what PPS 9 says about maintaining obligations (Bill).
Bill - link Bio Validation Checklist still to do (when we meet John Holmes)
6. Sustainable Development and Climate Change Strategy
Bill ran through the biodiversity aspirations for this document. We need to add the nitty gritty actions and will then ask the group for comment/feedback. Bill to attach current version.
7. ROLE OF THE STEERING GROUP
We hope to widen this Group to other interested/active members. It would be good to get a fuller picture of Biodiversity work across the Borough by the main agencies involved. This could include the Forestry Commission, FWAG, NFU, etc...
A 'one off' seminar might be a good start. Possibly have a themed annual event, i.e. woods or rivers and floodplains.
(For info, James Cartright is the new Sustainable Woodlands Officer at SWT, looking to support local markets e.g. supply biomass units.)
Bill to look at additional members for Group/invite/plan meetings/a themed meeting!!!
8. Events: 10 am Sunday - 8 February, Astonfields Practical Day
10 am Sunday - 8 March, Astonfields Practical Day
Kate Dewey: Woodland wildflowers tour 9 May
9. AOB
Date of Next meeting
Tuesday 12 May 2009 at 10.15 am
