Councillor Briars-Delve (Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change) introduced the item and highlighted:

a)    There had been a 19% decline in species abundance in the UK since 1970 and 16% of British species were at risk of extinction;

b)    There was a need to address the disconnect in the city between how the Council’s work in this area was perceived, compared to what was being achieved;

c)    The Plan for Nature was co-created with hundreds of residents and stakeholders;

d)    It aimed to address biodiversity loss, climate resilience, and community engagement;

e)    Some examples of the planned actions included: planting 1000 street trees by 2023, working with communities to develop neighbourhood level enhancement, achieving green flag status for 12 sites in the city by 2030, celebrating Plymouth’s unique species expanding ecotherapy and social prescribing, creating Plymouth’s first natural capital investment prospectus;

f)     Expressed thanks to all the residents, academics, environmental groups, Council officers, Councillors and other organisations who had helped shape this new document.

Kat Deeney (Head of Environmental Planning) added:

g)    The need to make Plymouth’s natural assets work for the city;

h)    The importance of aligning work in this area to national environmental policies;

i)     Plymouth had the UK’s first national marine park and the UK’s first local authority owned habitat bank;

j)     The plan strategically aligned nature alongside growth;

k)    Five key objectives were identified, with a five-year action plan and monitoring framework;

l)     The need to rebuild trust with the community on the Council’s work in this area;

m)  Over 1000 residents were engaged in conversations that fed into the creation of the plan.

Supported by Andy Sharp (Interim Service Director for Street Services), in response to questions, the following was discussed:

n)    There was a multi-agency plan for water in development;

o)    A select committee on flooding/water would be added to the work programme ACTION;

p)    Work was underway on a number of sites across the city that suffered with flooding to reduce flood risk;

q)    Work was underway on how allotments could be best utilised for communities e.g. half or shared plots;

r)    Financial restraints limited the ability to improve playparks;

s)     The steering group would include diverse community voices;

t)     Any executive decision on a capital project over £200,000 had to have a completed climate impact assessment which connected Council departments;

u)    Ecotherapy and social prescribing were being expanded;

v)    89% of young people who took part in ecotherapy said their anxiety had improved as a result;

w)   Data-led bin collection and community engagement were planned to tackle littering;

x)    Park rangers reported incidents of street homelessness and signposted to support.

The Panel agreed to:

1. Endorse the proposed changes to the draft Plymouth Plan for Nature and People following public consultation, to act as a strategic delivery framework integrating nature and natural spaces into the city’s growth;
   
   
2. Support the creation of a Year 1 Action Plan for delivery in 2026;
   
   
3. Request that this item return to the Panel for annual review of the action plan.