Waverley Borough Council

executive

3 MARCH 2020

Item 4. Questions from Members of the Public

The following question has been received from Fiona Scimone-Paterson of Frensham:

“What initiative or plans is Waverley Borough Council putting forward to encourage biodiversity in the borough? For example,

Is Waverley adopting a pollination action plan in line with government guidelines?

Will this be an integral part of a changing policy on pesticides and herbicides?

How does Waverley plan to address the loss of hedgerows, to replace the many kilometres that have been lost to close board fencing?

We need joined up policy looking at the whole issue across all departments- planning, green spaces, school grounds etc.”

Response from the Portfolio Holder, Cllr Steve Williams:

“As part of our adopted service plans the Council will be preparing numerous documents and action plans to help encourage biodiversity in the borough and put it on the centre stage of our greenspaces service. We have already prepared a draft pesticide policy and action plan which will be scrutinised at the Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee in March before being taken to the Executive for adoption. Our intention is that we shall eliminate pesticide use in all but exceptional and defined circumstances within a period of three years. We have already begun dialogue with our contractors in order to secure this aim and will enter a dialogue with Surrey County Council in order to try to ensure that the work that we do on behalf of Surrey County Council conforms with our stated intention.

In addition to the pesticide policy, over the coming months and years the Council has committed to the creation of further key documents such as a biodiversity policy and action plan; and a tree/vegetation policy and action plan. In addition there will be an overarching Greenspaces Strategy which aims to be a supplementary document in the planning process, the scope of which is currently being debated by a sub-group of the Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee. We intend that it will cover all publicly accessible greenspace estate across the borough.

These policies and action plans and the strategy will be inter-related and interdependent.

With regard to the specific question on the loss of hedgerows, Waverley will do all in its power to increase the amount of hedges available through both planting policies and using the sometimes limited planning powers we have available as far as we are able.”