European Union Habitats Regulations (Minute 89 of 16 February 2017)
To receive and consider the recommendations of the Cabinet relating to Councillor Wright’s Notice of Motion.
The text of the original Notice of Motion, the Cabinet’s recommendation and any reasons therefor may be seen in full at Minute 170(a) of the Cabinet held on 8 March 2017 (Page 9 of Cabinet meeting - 8 March 2017, Green Pages).
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Pursuant to County Council Minute 89 of 16 February 2017 relating to the Notice of Motion set out below as previously submitted and formally moved and seconded by Councillor Wright that:
‘Devon is home to many scarce and threatened habitats such as our ancient woodlands, rivers and wetlands, upland blanket bogs, lowland heaths, Culm grasslands and our stunning coast and marine environments. These support a myriad of species with internationally important populations of marsh fritillary butterflies, greater horseshoe bats, otters, overwintering waders and marine creatures including whales, dolphins and basking shark.
European Union Habitats Regulations protection of land and seascapes such as the pebblebed heaths in East Devon, large swathes of Dartmoor and Exmoor, the Exe and Tamar Estuaries and Lundy Island have meant that wildlife has flourished over the years and has ensured that these places remain crucial international strongholds.
The latest State of Nature report published last October found that the UK has experienced huge losses of habitat and wildlife, and 15 per cent of those studied are threatened with extinction.
Leaving the European Union puts at risk all of these protections - and the Government has not yet promised to retain the same level of protections that currently exist under EU legislation.
This Council recognises the huge importance of these rich landscapes for people and wildlife in Devon – and calls upon the Secretary of State for the Environment to support the Environmental Audit Committee, as well as the coalition of wildlife and nature organisations, asking for retention of at least the same level of protection for our wildlife and environment, as takes place currently under EU law’.
and having had regard to the advice of the Cabinet set out in Minute 170(a) of 8 March 2017:
Councillor Hart MOVED and Councillor Clatworthy SECONDED that the Cabinet’s advice be accepted and that the Notice of Motion be endorsed.
The amendment in the name of Councillor Hart was then put to the vote and declared CARRIED and subsequently thereafter also CARRIED as the substantive motion.