Agenda item

Building with wildlife in mind

 

The Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust has brought an important paper forward in their homes for people and wildlife document. This document creates the environment for a more harmonised living world for both people, animals and plants. In line with this document I wish to table the following motion:

 

This council supports the adoption of a supplementary planning document in line with the “Homes for People and Wildlife” document as soon as is practicable. If approved, the supplementary planning document would be a material consideration in relation to the determination of planning applications. All future planning applicants would have this additional document made available to them with their application, and the points included from the applicant relevant to the supplementary planning document would need to be considered by the Council when determining the application.

 

This policy would fill a large void in the councils existing decision making process with regards to the impact of development on wildlife. It would help councillors, residents and applicants better understand the environmental credentials of new build developments and help them make their decisions in line with our challenges around habitat loss and bio diversity decline.

 

Some of the measures which could be considered for inclusion in the supplementary planning document and proposed in the Homes for People and Wildlife document include:

 

·         Permeable driveways to help reduce flood risk

·         Trees, hedgerows, water and other habitats integrated with development

·         Wildflower verges along roads and formal open spaces

·         Lighting designed to avoid disturbing wildlife

·         Sustainable urban drainage, swales and raingardens for wildlife and flood relief.

·         Bat roosts, bird boxes and other wildlife features designed into buildings

·         Renewable energy and water efficiency built in from the outset

·         Safe, attractive, connected pedestrian and cycle routes

·         Features and corridors to help invertebrates, reptiles, hedgehogs and other mammals

·         Wildlife-friendly green roofs and walls

·         Native, wildlife-friendly plants of local origin used in gardens and landscaping

·         Wildlife-permeable boundaries between gardens and open space

·         Allotments and community orchards for local food

·         Street trees for wildlife, shade and improved air quality

·         Interpretation panels to help people understand the needs of wildlife and the environment.

 

I would encourage all members to support this urgent motion to protect our bio diversity and enhance the quality of our buildings across the Borough.

 

Proposed: Councillor Adams

Seconded: Councillor Sam Smith

Motion One

 

Upon a notice of motion received in the name of Councillor Adams, a proposition was moved by Councillor Adams seconded by Councillor Sam Smith, in the following terms:

 

This Council notes:

 

The Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust has brought an important paper forward in their homes for people and wildlife document. This document creates the environment for a more harmonised living world for both people, animals and plants. In line with this document I wish to table the following motion:

 

This council supports the adoption of a supplementary planning document in line with the “Homes for People and Wildlife” document as soon as is practicable. If approved, the supplementary planning document would be a material consideration in relation to the determination of planning applications. All future planning applicants would have this additional document made available to them with their application, and the points included from the applicant relevant to the supplementary planning document would need to be considered by the Council when determining the application.

 

This policy would fill a large void in the councils existing decision making process with regards to the impact of development on wildlife. It would help councillors, residents and applicants better understand the environmental credentials of new build developments and help them make their decisions in line with our challenges around habitat loss and bio diversity decline.

 

Some of the measures which could be considered for inclusion in the supplementary planning document and proposed in the Homes for People and Wildlife document include:

 

·         Permeable driveways to help reduce flood risk

·         Trees, hedgerows, water and other habitats integrated with development

·         Wildflower verges along roads and formal open spaces

·         Lighting designed to avoid disturbing wildlife

·         Sustainable urban drainage, swales and raingardens for wildlife and flood relief.

·         Bat roosts, bird boxes and other wildlife features designed into buildings

·         Renewable energy and water efficiency built in from the outset

·         Safe, attractive, connected pedestrian and cycle routes

·         Features and corridors to help invertebrates, reptiles, hedgehogs and other mammals

·         Wildlife-friendly green roofs and walls

·         Native, wildlife-friendly plants of local origin used in gardens and landscaping

·         Wildlife-permeable boundaries between gardens and open space

·         Allotments and community orchards for local food

·         Street trees for wildlife, shade and improved air quality

·         Interpretation panels to help people understand the needs of wildlife and the environment.

 

I would encourage all members to support this urgent motion to protect our bio diversity and enhance the quality of our buildings across the Borough.

 

An amendment was moved by Councillor Payne and seconded by Councillor Hollingsworth in the following terms:

 

Building with wildlife in mind

 

ThiseCouncil welcomes The NottinghamshireWildlife Trust’shas brought an important paper vision putforward in their ‘Hhomes for Ppeople and Wwildlife’ document. This document seeks to creates the environment for a more harmonised living world for both people, animals and plants. In line with this document I wish to table the following motion:

 

 

This cCouncil supportscommits to formally consulting Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust on all major residential the adoption of a supplementary planning applications, document in line withto ensure the Wildlife Trust’s ‘Homes for People and Wildlife’ vision is considered as an integral part of each major residential planning application (above ten dwellings)document as soon as is practicable. If approved, the supplementary planning document would be a material consideration in relation to the determination of planning applications. All future major residential planning applicationsnts would have this additional formal consultation document made available to them with their application, and the points included from the applicant relevant to the supplementary planning document would need to be considered by to assist the Council’s Planning Committee when determining suchthe applications.

 

This commitment to formally consulting Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trustpolicy would fill a large void in further add to the Ccouncil’s existing decision making process with regards to the impact of residential development on wildlife. It would help councillors, residents and applicants better understand the environmental credentials of new build developments and help them make their decisions in line with our challenges around habitat loss and bio-diversity decline.

 

This Council notes the features of development (listed below) Some of the measures which could be considered for inclusion in the supplementary planning document and proposedincluded in TtheWildlife Trust’s ‘Homes for People and Wildlife’ document are already contained in the Council’s Local Planning Document and the Aligned Core Strategy, as well as the Council’s recently adopted Low Carbon Planning Guidance for Gedling Borough and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPFF), all of which are material considerations for the Planning Committee when determining all planning applications.include:

 

·         Permeable driveways to help reduce flood risk

·         Trees, hedgerows, water and other habitats integrated with development

·         Wildflower verges along roads and formal open spaces

·         Lighting designed to avoid disturbing wildlife

·         Sustainable urban drainage, swales and raingardens for wildlife and flood relief.

·         Bat roosts, bird boxes and other wildlife features designed into buildings

·         Renewable energy and water efficiency built in from the outset

·         Safe, attractive, connected pedestrian and cycle routes

·         Features and corridors to help invertebrates, reptiles, hedgehogs and other mammals

·         Wildlife-friendly green roofs and walls

·         Native, wildlife-friendly plants of local origin used in gardens and landscaping

·         Wildlife-permeable boundaries between gardens and open space

·         Allotments and community orchards for local food

·         Street trees for wildlife, shade and improved air quality

·         Interpretation panels to help people understand the needs of wildlife and the environment.

 

This Council notes the Wildlife Trust is opposed to the Government’s proposed changes to the planning system set out in the Planning for the Future White Paper, which they consider will harm efforts to protect wildlife. Nature does not fit neatly into the Government’s three proposed planning zones.

 

This Council shares the Wildlife Trust’s concerns that the Government’s proposed ‘developers’ charter’ planning reforms risk creating ‘a disconnected landscape, one in which wildlife continues to decline because nature doesn’t slot into neat little boxes.’

 

This Council agrees with one of the Wildlife Trust’s ‘key concerns’ regarding the Government’s proposed planning reforms – namely that they risk ‘undermining the democratic process by reducing people’s opportunity to influence the planning process’, which would undermine attempts to create the more harmonious world for people and wildlife to which we aspire.

 

This Council therefore resolves to write to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and the borough’s two local Members of Parliament setting out our shared concerns with the Wildlife Trust about the negative impact on wildlife arising from proposals in the Government’s Planning for the Future White Paper.

 

I would encourage all members to support this urgent motion to protect our bio diversity and enhance the quality of our buildings across the Borough.

 

The Mayor, seconded by Councillor Sam Smith, proposed a motion to briefly adjourn the meeting to allow Members to consider the amendment put before them. The motion was supported and the Mayor declared it carried.

 

The meeting adjourned at 6.51 pm.

 

The meeting resumed at 7.01 pm.

 

Councillors Adams, Barnfather, Elliott, Greensmith, Parr, Sam Smith and Martin Smith re-joined the meeting at 7:03pm.

 

Following debate, the amendment was put to a vote and the Mayor declared that the amendment was carried so the amendment became the substantive motion.

 

In accordance with Standing Order 17.03, the proposition as amended was put to a named vote as follows:

 

For the Substantive Motion with the amendment
Councillor P Barnes	Councillor Hope
Councillor S Barnes	Councillor Keneally
Councillor Brooks	Councillor Lawrence
Councillor Clarke	Councillor Ron McCrossen
Councillor Clunie	Councillor Viv McCrossen
Councillor Collis	Councillor Miller
Councillor Creamer	Councillor Najuk
Councillor David Ellis	Councillor Paling
Councillor Rachael Ellis	Councillor Payne
Councillor Roxanne Ellis	Councillor Scroggie
Councillor Ellwood	Councillor Towsey-Hinton
Councillor Fox	Councillor Truscott
Councillor Gibbons	Councillor Wheeler
Councillor Gregory	Councillor Wilkinson
Councillor Hollingsworth
Against the Substantive Motion with the amendment
None
Abstentions:
Councillor Adams	Councillor Parr
Councillor Barnfather	Councillor Martin Smith
Councillor Elliott	Councillor Sam Smith
Councillor Greensmith

It was therefore

 

RESOLVED that:

 

This Council welcomes The Wildlife Trust’s vision put forward in their ‘Homes for People and Wildlife’ document. This document seeks to create the environment for a more harmonised living world for both people, animals and plants.

 

This Council commits to formally consulting Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust on all major residential planning applications, to ensure the Wildlife Trust’s ‘Homes for People and Wildlife’ vision is considered as an integral part of each major residential planning application (above ten dwellings). All future major residential planning applications would have this additional formal consultation to assist the Council’s Planning Committee when determining such applications.

 

This commitment to formally consulting Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust would further add to the Council’s existing decision making process with regards to the impact of residential development on wildlife. It would help councillors, residents and applicants better understand the environmental credentials of new build developments and help them make their decisions in line with our challenges around habitat loss and bio-diversity decline.

 

This Council notes the features of development (listed below) included in The Wildlife Trust’s ‘Homes for People and Wildlife’ document are already contained in the Council’s Local Planning Document and the Aligned Core Strategy, as well as the Council’s recently adopted Low Carbon Planning Guidance for Gedling Borough and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPFF), all of which are material considerations for the Planning Committee when determining all planning applications.

 

·         Permeable driveways to help reduce flood risk

·         Trees, hedgerows, water and other habitats integrated with development

·         Wildflower verges along roads and formal open spaces

·         Lighting designed to avoid disturbing wildlife

·         Sustainable urban drainage, swales and raingardens for wildlife and flood relief.

·         Bat roosts, bird boxes and other wildlife features designed into buildings

·         Renewable energy and water efficiency built in from the outset

·         Safe, attractive, connected pedestrian and cycle routes

·         Features and corridors to help invertebrates, reptiles, hedgehogs and other mammals

·         Wildlife-friendly green roofs and walls

·         Native, wildlife-friendly plants of local origin used in gardens and landscaping

·         Wildlife-permeable boundaries between gardens and open space

·         Allotments and community orchards for local food

·         Street trees for wildlife, shade and improved air quality

·         Interpretation panels to help people understand the needs of wildlife and the environment.

 

This Council notes the Wildlife Trust is opposed to the Government’s proposed changes to the planning system set out in the Planning for the Future White Paper, which they consider will harm efforts to protect wildlife. Nature does not fit neatly into the Government’s three proposed planning zones.

 

This Council shares the Wildlife Trust’s concerns that the Government’s proposed ‘developers’ charter’ planning reforms risk creating ‘a disconnected landscape, one in which wildlife continues to decline because nature doesn’t slot into neat little boxes.’

 

This Council agrees with one of the Wildlife Trust’s ‘key concerns’ regarding the Government’s proposed planning reforms – namely that they risk ‘undermining the democratic process by reducing people’s opportunity to influence the planning process’, which would undermine attempts to create the more harmonious world for people and wildlife to which we aspire.

 

This Council therefore resolves to write to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and the borough’s two local Members of Parliament setting out our shared concerns with the Wildlife Trust about the negative impact on wildlife arising from proposals in the Government’s Planning for the Future White Paper.

 

Councillors Clarke, Hollingsworth and Payne left the meeting.