The following motion was adopted by the city council at its full meeting on 19 October 2022 having being proposed by Councillor Mike McCusker and seconded by Councillor Nathaniel Tetteh.
Salford City Council resolves:
1. That the findings of the Global Biodiversity Outlook, produced by the Convention on Biological Diversity, be noted, in particular:
- That biodiversity is declining at an unprecedented rate, and the pressures driving this decline are intensifying.
- None of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets will be fully met, in turn threatening the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and undermining efforts to address climate change.
- The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the importance of the relationship between people and nature, and it reminds us all of the profound consequences to our own well-being and survival that can result from continued biodiversity loss and the degradation of ecosystems.
- Reports provided by the world’s governments, as well as other sources of evidence, reveal examples of progress which, if scaled up, could support the transformative changes necessary to achieve the 2050 vision of living in harmony with nature.
2. That the Salford City Council believes that:
- The impacts of the continued decline in biodiversity were so severe that Governments at all levels must work together and make this a top priority.
- As well as improvements in the innate value people place on biodiversity, tackling the decline in biodiversity can deliver wider benefits for the environment, economy and society and that embedding a Natural Capital Approach was essential to realising these.
3. That Salford City Council declare a ‘biodiversity emergency’ alongside the climate emergency to support the delivery of the GM 5 Year Environment Plan.
4. That the existing Climate Action Board:
- Monitor progress of indicators of key species diversity and abundance in Salford.
- Take a mission-based approach to reversing these declines as part of the 5 Year Environment and in line with the findings of the GM Local Nature Recovery Strategy pilot.
- Consider systematically the biodiversity impact of each area of the council’s activities.
- Make recommendations and set an ambitious timescale for reducing these impacts in line with the tasks set out in the GM 5 Year Environment Plan.
- Assess the feasibility of requiring all report risk and procurement assessments to include biodiversity or natural capital appraisals, including presenting alternative approaches which reduce the impact wherever possible.
- Report to the council every six months on progress and actions required to take to address this emergency and how it will continue to work with GM Districts to implement a Mission Based Approach.
5. That it be agreed to task a director level officer with responsibility for tackling the biodiversity impact of the council’s activities.
6. That it be agreed to equip staff, particularly those involved with buildings, energy and transport management and procurement of goods and service, with an awareness of the biodiversity and natural capital costs and impacts of everyday activities, and the ability and motivation to reduce these.
7. That all organisations, businesses, and citizens can play their part in tackling the biodiversity emergency.
8. That it be agreed that the City Mayor be requested to write to the Prime Minister to inform them that Salford City Council has declared a biodiversity emergency, with a request from Government to provide the resources and powers necessary to deal with it.
Salford City Council and the Biodiversity Duty
Public authorities including local authorities who operate in England must consider what they can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity in England. This is the strengthened ‘biodiversity duty’ that the Environment Act 2021 introduces.
This means that, as a public authority, you must:
- Consider what you can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity
- Agree policies and specific objectives based on your consideration
- Act to deliver your policies and achieve your objectives
The city council has now completed its first consideration of what action to take for biodiversity to comply with the deadline of 1 January 2024 set out in the 2021 Environment Act.
The first consideration involved considering the implications of relevant strategies and setting out what actions the city council currently takes as outlined below.
Assessment of implications of relevant strategies
- Local Nature Recovery Strategy – not yet applicable – the Greater Manchester Local Nature Recovery Strategy is being prepared by GMCA and Salford is fully engaged in that process
- Species Conservation Strategies – not applicable – no Species Conservation Strategies in place
- Protected Site Strategies – not applicable – no Protected Site Strategies in place
Consideration of Actions to further conserve and enhance biodiversity
- Actions as a Local Authority
- Assess the impact of all actions for their impact on the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity and seek to maximise positive biodiversity impact where viable.
- Review and monitor key biodiversity data for Salford.
- Actions through Regulation
- Implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain. Salford Local Plan includes a requirement for 10% Biodiversity Net Gain, which has been implemented through planning decisions since adoption (January 2023).
- Implementation of planning policies which protect and enhance biodiversity and green infrastructure, particularly Local Plan Policies BG1, BG2 and GI1-5.
- Actions as a landowner
- Management of parks and open space to promote conservation and enhancement of biodiversity wherever compatible with wider purpose of land.
- Operate maintenance regime that promotes biodiversity and continue to identify new opportunities to adapt maintenance regimes
- Manage and maintain Sites of Biological Importance at current standard or seek to improve
- Carry out habitat enhancement work at natural sites managed for wildlife to increase biodiversity
- Consult communities to identify new opportunities to enhance biodiversity
- Upskill volunteers to support the management of sites for wildlife through accredited training
- Continue to manage 6 existing Local Nature reserves and explore options to designate additional sites as appropriate
- Continue to carry out baseline species and habitat surveys for monitoring purposes at key sites
- Actions as a local Stakeholder
- Partnerships in which the city council is engaged to promote conservation and enhancement of biodiversity through their work, wherever appropriate
- Promote good practice across Salford to further the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity, including through: promotion of good biodiversity practice through the Greener Salford communications campaign; recognising exemplar people/bodies through Salford Green Champions programme
- City council is a member of the Great Manchester Wetlands Partnership at officer level. GMW includes the Chat Moss area in Salford and the links with wetland habitats in Wigan and Warrington. Partnership includes the three councils, Natural England, Lancashire Wildlife Trust, GMCA, Peel, Manchester and Salford Universities and has secured over £10 million pounds external investment for restoration and engagement work across the area over the last ten years.
- Promote good practice across Salford and beyond in relation to green infrastructure, with demonstration Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems projects already installed and others proposed within Salford, and by taking an active role in the production of sustainable drainage guidance for Greater Manchester.