Issue - meetings

To receive an update on the Government 25 year Environment Plan strategy, following it being discussed at the Select Committee in April 2018.

The Select Committee received a presentation from Chris Murray, Head of Strategic Planning, updating Members on the Government 25 Year Environment Plan.

Members were taken through the main themes within the Plan, subsequent government policy and consultation and the County Council’s response to the aims in the Plan, on issues such as waste management (including the plastic and food waste challenge), biodiversity, flood management and air quality.

Members heard that:

· There were plans for 11 million trees to be planted by 2060 to support landscaping and declining species.

· An Ecological Network had been produced to help protect threatened species and reduce decline in biodiversity.

· Better partnership arrangements were being sought around flood and water management

· The Clean Air Strategy had been published and could be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/clean-air-strategy-2019.  Climate change and air quality implications had been discussed at Cabinet in November 2018.

Members enquired regarding initiatives to help protect wildlife by having dog free areas in national parks and other protected areas. This was acknowledged as an issue but would be something for the individual National Parks and other planning authorities to manage through planning policy.

RESOLVED:

Members noted the information and thanked Chris Murray for his presentation.