Issue - meetings

      Report of the Chief Executive

Cllr Nick Botterill, Cabinet Member for Development Management, Strategic Planning and Climate Change introduced the report which provided detail in relation to consultation responses for the Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy (GBI) for Wiltshire – Wiltshire’s Natural Environment Plan and recommended the Plan to Council for adoption.

The Cabinet noted that the GBI Strategy had been subject to a series of stakeholder workshops and significant internal and external consultation. The Strategy would support the delivery of the Council’s Climate Strategy as both Strategies share a number of objectives. Cllr Botterill highlighted the 3 goals of the Strategy and the six delivery themes which received support during feedback on the consultation process.

The Leader welcomed the Strategy and highlighted the importance of linking this Strategy with the emerging Climate Strategy to achieve solutions to protect the environment.

Cllr Graham Wright, Chair of the Climate Emergency Task Group reported that the Task Group had received briefings on 5 August 2021 and 10 December 2021 and had provided supportive feedback to the Environment Select Committee.

Cllr Ian Thorn congratulated Cllr Botterill and his officer team for the progress made in developing the Strategy document. He commented further on achieving the delivery objectives detailed in the Strategy, the need for regular monitoring and the development of further identifiable targets. The Leader and Cllr Botterill indicated that information relating to targets and policies within the Strategy would be detailed in delivery plans which would be subject to appropriate monitoring and reporting.

Resolved:

That Cabinet:

1. Notes the consultation feedback on the draft Green & Blue Infrastructure Strategy for Wiltshire - Wiltshire’s Natural Environment Plan 2022-30.

2. Approves the final Green & Blue Infrastructure Strategy for Wiltshire - Wiltshire’s Natural Environment Plan and recommends it to Council for adoption as part of the council’s policy framework.

Reasons for decision:

To ensure Wiltshire has in place a strategy to support the council’s Business Plan missions on climate, wellbeing, and the natural environment and fulfil the requirement set out in the Core Strategy to have a Green Infrastructure Strategy for Wiltshire.