Agenda and draft minutes

19 July 2023

It was moved by Councillor Peter Slack, Seconded by Councillor Martin Burfoot and

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting of the Biodiversity Sub Committee held on 19 July 2023 be approved as a correct record.

Voting

05 For

00 Against

01 Abstentions

The Chair declared the motion CARRIED.

To enable members of the public to ask questions, express views or present petitions, IF NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN, (by telephone, in writing or by email) BY NO LATER THAN 12 NOON OF THE WORKING DAY PRECEDING THE MEETING. As per Procedural Rule 14.4 at any one meeting no person may submit more than 3 questions and no more than 1 such question may be asked on behalf of one organisation.

STATEMENT and QUESTION from Ms Laura Stevens, Matlock Local Resident, regarding the District Council’s use of Glyphosate.

“Glyphosate as a weed control product is used in small quantities on Derbyshire County Council (DCC) Countryside sites by certificated staff using appropriate PPE.

Primarily it is used as an herbicide on INNS (invasive non-native species) on our sites. In practice, this is Giant Hogweed and Japanese knotweed, for which there is little or no alternative treatment. This is generally applied by spray, but we have recently started using an injector to deliver a metered dose into the plant stem as this is a more effective methods of treatment.

On 16 March 2023 at a DDDC council meeting, two people asked DDDC about their use of glyphosate. The following answer was given:

We appreciate the concerns around the use of glyphosate and we are trying to balance this against this other factor such as, complaints and service requests received and the resources available to provide hand removal. Therefore, we are proposing to reintroduce its use in a significantly reduced and limited manner. The use will solely be considered for closed churchyards and access roads to cemeteries and leisure centres. All other areas will continue to be managed with a weed ripper and hand weeding. This was decided in 2020 following a review of possible alternatives.

Please note the point in the report that we will continue to work towards finding a suitable replacement for glyphosate.

Sue Bliss took the attached images* in May and August of this year. Concerned that glyphosate was being used in an area where children play and dogs roam freely, Sue submitted a FOI request to DDDC on the use of glyphosate. The FOI response was as follows:

This is a Derbyshire County Council footpath so it is sprayed twice a year with Gallup Biograde 360.

The above response has been provided by the Green & Clean Manager.

Gallup Biograde 360 is glyphosate and I understand that the Green & Clean manager at DDDC is Samantha Grisman.

If the use of glyphosate is confined to non-native invasive species by DCC and closed churchyards etc. by DDDC why is it being used on a footpath which runs through a green area where children play, and dogs are walked?”

*Submitted images available upon request.

RESPONSE:

Thank you for your question.

At the meeting of Council in July 2023, the decision was made to continue not to use glyphosate on District Council land including closed churchyards, other than for the control of invasive species.

The images shared are of a County Council owned footpath, not District Council owned land.  However, both authorities are working together to understand the possibilities of an alternative weed management programme on the highways.

STATEMENT and QUESTION from Dr Sheila Evans, Matlock Local Resident

“In January, the Biodiversity Sub-Committee council resolved to support the recovery of nature across Derbyshire Dales. The details of the recovery will be outlined in an ‘action plan’. As a local resident, and member of Derbyshire  ...  view the full minutes text for item 116/23

Members are required to declare the existence and nature of any interests they may have in subsequent agenda items in accordance with the District Council’s Code of Conduct. Those interests are matters that relate to money or that which can be valued in money, affecting the Member, their partner, extended family and close friends. Interests that become apparent at a later stage in the proceedings may be declared at the time.

Item 6 Biodiversity Project

Councillor Matthew Buckler declared a pecuniary interest in Item 6 due to his role with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust.

Councillor Peter Slack declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 6 due to being a member of Wilder Wirksworth.

Councillor Martin Burfoot declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 6 due to being a Member of Matlock in Bloom.

Councillor John Bointon declared a pecuniary interest in Item 6 due to having a contract to cut verges and pathways for Doveridge Parish Council

The report presents a specialist professional services quotation brief for the approval of Members. The resulting action plan will allow the Council to meet the requirements of the enhanced Biodiversity Duty as set out in the Environment Act 2021.

The Climate Change Project Officer introduced a report presenting a specialist professional services quotation brief for the approval of Members.  The resulting action plan will allow the Council to meet the requirements of the enhanced Biodiversity Duty as set out in the Environment Act 2021.

The plan should consider existing and emerging local strategies but focus on the actions that the Council can take in the short to medium term. It is intended that the plan will build on the workstreams that are currently underway, identifying opportunities to enhance these and seek new opportunities particularly where partnership working is possible.  The plan should clearly set out the resource implications of continuing and new workstreams, identifying opportunities for funding.  The term of the plan is proposed as 3 years (2024-27) to align with the current Council term.

Members were asked to note the timescale for the work a three-stage process.  The expectation is that a draft action plan will be developed from late December 2023 for approval by the Council in Spring 2024.

It was moved by Councillor Martin Burfoot seconded by Councillor Roger Shelley and

RESOLVED (Unanimously)

1.    That the specialist professional services quotation brief at Appendix 1 is approved.

2.    That the funding mechanism for the plan, as set out in paragraph 7, is approved.

3.    That Council, via the Community and Environment Committee, be requested to approve a supplementary revenue budget in 2023/24 to reflect the proposed expenditure of £58,791 associated with the action plan for nature specification and work to prepare for the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). This would be financed by the transfer of £11,984 from the grants unapplied reserve, £26,807 grant receivable in 2023/24 and £20,000 from the General Reserve

The Chair declared the motion CARRIED.

An update and discussion regarding the current biodiversity pilot projects and possible next steps.

The Clean and Green Manager gave a presentation updating Members on the current biodiversity pilot projects and discuss with Members the next steps for the proposal to take to the next Community & Environment Committee (C&E) meeting on 26 October 23.

It was moved by Councillor Martin Burfoot, Seconded by Councillor Peter Slack and

RESOLVED (Unanimously)

That the Clean and Green Manager should include the following in the report to C&E:

1.    Merge the report with the Climate Change Officers report.

2.    Pathfinder results to be presented in the report with the option to merge any sites into the Biodiversity Project.

3.    The Wider Action Plan to incorporate public feedback, consultation and communication next April.

4.    Motion operation for management of grass verges for next year– keeping the wider verges tidy by keeping a band mown at the edge.

5.    Management proposal for a local DDDC site

6.    Liaise with other Councils to see whether they are using Native or non-native seed mixes.

7.    Work in partnership with other organisations – Local Community groups, Schools, Associations such as Derbyshire Beekeepers Association.

8.    Produce a ‘How to guide at Home’ to offer service to the community.

9.    Review signage and explore larger options.

10.  Investigate the DCC process for selecting changes for the mowing regimes next year on the back of the Pathfinder data.

The Chair declared the motion CARRIED.