Durham County Council

Declaration of Ecological Emergency, item 5 PDFhttps://democracy.durham.gov.uk/documents/s153923/Declaration%20of%20Ecological%20Emergency.pdfDeclaration of an Ecological Emergency - Report of Corporate Director of Neighbourhoods and Climate Change (Key Decision: NCC/03/22)"Recommendation(s)11 Cabinet is recommended to:(a) thank ESCOSC for its work detailed in Appendix 2 in examining evidence relating state of habitats and species across the County, and for its recommendations to Cabinet;(b) declare an ecological emergency for County Durham;(c) ask for an initial action plan on Council activities in response to this declaration be provided within six months;(d) include planning for the ecological emergency in future MTFP planning cycles with a value for money outcome-based focus alongside other projects and programmes;(e) note that the Council is required to prepare a Local Nature Recovery Strategy and that this document, when complete will inform future plans that consider opportunities for enhancing biodiversity both by the Council and countywide Partners.""Conclusion20 ESCOSC has undertaken extensive work detailed in Appendix 2 and unanimously concluded that an ecological emergency should be declared. This report accepts its conclusions and recommendations in full."Appendix 2 Consideration of Ecological Emergency , item 5 PDF https://democracy.durham.gov.uk/documents/s153924/Appendix%202%20Consideration%20of%20Ecological%20Emergency.pdf"Recommendation(s)16 That Cabinet notes the report of the Environment and Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee.17 That Cabinet considers whether to formally declare an ecological emergency.18 That Cabinet, should it declare an ecological emergency, also considers the following additional recommendations:(a) That Durham County Council develops an Ecological Emergency Response Plan to address both how the council will revise its own practices, and also how it will work with the wider community to tackle the ecological emergency. Producing the Ecological Emergency Response Plan will involve conducting a fully detailed cross service review to identify actions (with associated costs) and targets to be undertaken by DCC with relevant partners (a similar process was undertaken in relation to the development of the Climate Emergency Response Plan (CERP)).(b) That the Ecological Emergency Response Plan is a standalone plan initially, and then over time as it develops, is merged with the Climate Emergency Response Plan.(c) To progress the development of the plan, Cabinet ensures that best ecological practice is integrated across all Council services and in doing so considers the inclusion of ecology in the implications sheet that accompanies all DCC committee reports.(d) When declaring an ecological emergency, the need for engagement and consultation should be articulated and request that the Corporate Director of Neighbourhoods and Climate Change:i. Raise awareness of biodiversity decline in County Durham and promote various educational activities undertaken by DCC, partners and community groups to tackle this issue.ii. Ensure engagement with community and special interest groups and interested individuals, as part of any consultation arrangements and in relation to the future development and delivery of the action plan.(e) That the Environment and Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee receives regular updates on the progression of the plan and once developed, monitors progress against the actions and targets contained in the plan, on a regular basis.(f) That the review of the progress made against the recommendations contained in this report will be undertaken six months after the report is considered by Cabinet."

— Cabinet (Source)