Agenda item

To be presented by Nicola Thomas, Natural Environment Partnership Manager

Nicola Thomas, Natural Environment Partnership (NEP) Manager, was in attendance to introduce the NEP and to explore how the partnership could work closer with the Local Access Forum. It was explained that there were 47 Local Nature Partnerships across England, with the purpose of setting a strategic a vision for the local environment, work with partners of different types, and champion the interests of the environment in local decision-making.

The Forum noted the NEP’s recent projects including:

·       Designing a biodiversity net gain scheme by working with local planning authorities to formalise a commitment in local plans. As such, new developments would need to review their biodiversity baseline prior to development and achieve at least a 10% net gain after. It was explained that biodiversity net gain would become mandatory by November 2023. Ms N Thomas identified Buckinghamshire Council’s proactiveness by working with the NEP on biodiversity and employing a biodiversity net gain Officer.

·       The Local Nature Recovery Strategy. The NEP were involved in a pilot scheme to test a Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) process for setting out the priorities for nature and nature recovery in Buckinghamshire. Feedback would then influence guidance for the Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

·       The Biodiversity Action Plan which was launched in the interim until the Local Nature Recovery Strategy would be enacted.

·       Opportunity map to set out a vision for green infrastructure, by detailing the area’s natural assets and the benefits from these.

·       Work with other Local Nature Partnerships to develop growth arcs.

·       Work with individual partner organisations to deliver ground projects such as Bucks Buzzing and the Buckinghamshire Council Wilder Road Verges Initiative. The NEP have also produced a toolkit to encourage local action.

·       Future work with the health sector and involvement with social prescribing to help signpost GP surgeries to walks and conservation volunteering opportunities.

More information on the Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes NEP can be found on their website and Twitter @BucksBuzzing.

The following points were raised during discussion:

·       When asked how the Local Access Forum (LAF) could contribute and collaborate with the NEP, Ms N Thomas suggested that the LAF get involved in the Local Nature Recovery Strategy as a stakeholder. This would ensure that that the issues surrounding Rights of Way and access be brought to the fore.

·       The value of working with partnership organisations. For specialist topics, the NEP would work with a consultancy firm. For projects such as the Biodiversity Action Plan, partners input their ideas into the working group to influence the final report. It was noted that the NEP often coordinated with partners to respond to consultations, both locally and nationally.

·       The budget for the NEP funded mainly by Buckinghamshire Council and Milton Keynes Council. Ms N Thomas informed the Forum that they had instigated a strategic review to ensure the partnership remains relevant and to review the NEP’s capacity to undertake projects. It was emphasised that the Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes NEP had been recognised nationally for their work, as having funded roles of Partnership Manager and Project Officer had enabled the partnership to propel projects forward.

·       Concern was raised over funding. Ms N Thomas explained that whilst Local Nature Partnerships (LNP) were set up alongside Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEP), the LEPs received funding from government. The way LNPs source their funding varied throughout the county.