Agenda item

Report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment, concerning a Natural Capital Audit.

The Director of Natural Environment provided an update on the natural capital audit, explaining that the audit articulated the huge value of open spaces for many different ecosystem services, including biodiversity, carbon sequestration, access, recreation, health and well-being, and flood management. The data from the audit was captured on a geographic information system, allowing it to be broken down to the site-specific level or clustered up to a group of sites. The audit covered not only the open spaces within the division, but also City Gardens, school grounds, and the cemetery and crematorium.

Members noted that the next steps for the audit included feeding into the new corporate plan, influencing local planning, working with funding organisations, supporting income generation, establishing a reputation as an international leader in natural capital accounting, establishing a baseline against which progress can be measured, informing governance and priorities, and building effective delivery partnerships.

It was noted that an internal working group meeting was planned for later in the month to prioritise the next steps and determine who would deliver outcomes. Members were informed that the audit was planned to be repeated every two to three years to enable significant progress to be shown and more value to be delivered by the open spaces.