Agenda item

(1)       In June 2011, Defra published the Natural Environment White Paper, which launched the formation of Local Nature Partnerships, which aimed to secure the wider social and economic benefits of a healthy natural environment.  The report provided an overview of the Paper’s vision and the establishment of a Local Nature Partnership for Kent.

(2)       Much like the Kent Environment Strategy, the White Paper recognised that a healthy, properly functioning natural environment was the foundation of sustained economic growth, prospering communities and personal wellbeing.  The Paper aimed to mainstream the value of nature across society by a number of key reforms.

(3)       One initiative announced by the White Paper, to facilitate the protection and improvement of nature at the local level, was the establishment of Local Nature Partnerships, which represented a more holistic view of the natural environment and recognised the wider social and economic benefits biodiversity brought.  The Kent Biodiversity Partnership had recognised the value of working towards becoming a Local Nature Partnership, broadening the vision for the county’s natural environment and widening the spectrum of delivery partners. 

(4)       The Partnership had recently secured £27,000 of capacity building funding from Defra to take the work forward, which would focus on engaging additional partners and establishing a vision and set of targets for the natural environment that recognised the potential for social and economic benefits also.  As outlined as a requirement in the White Paper, the Partnership would also be seeking constructive and cooperative working arrangements with the Local Enterprise Partnership, to ensure opportunities for a green economy were realised.  Partnerships that fulfil Defra’s vision would be invited to submit applications in early 2012 to be recognised by Government and its environmental agencies. 

(5)       The White Paper closely mirrored the ethos of the Kent Environment Strategy, whereby nature was valued not just for its own sake but as an asset which supported economic and social regeneration.  The Kent Local Nature Partnership would reflect the three cornerstones of theme 3 of the Kent Environment Strategy, Valuing our natural, historic and living environment – the economic value of the natural environment; the quality of life that it supported; and that the natural environment must be protected and enhanced if the services were to be realised.  The Partnership would therefore provide a framework for delivery of the theme and its aims and objectives, that would last (and continue to deliver) past the timeframe of the Strategy. 

(6)       The White Paper did not pose any additional burdens or statutory duties on local authorities.  However the Paper emphasised the need for “greater local action”.  Whilst recognition of the local authority role was welcomed, there was some element of concern over delivery as, other than some one-off funding for specific initiatives, there was no additional funding from central government.  KCC had an important strategic role to ensure that the county did fully engage with, and contribute to, the vision of the White Paper.

(7)       RESOLVED that the establishment of a Partnership which would help the county to fully realise the economic and social benefits of a healthy natural environment, be supported.