Best Value for Biodiversity

Recommendations for Overcoming Constraints on the delivery of Biodiversity within Local Authority Services

1. Identify, promote and implement specific actions where individual departments, sections and teams can introduce biodiversity conservation into their own functions, services and activities.

   Implication:

   This will enable local authorities (i) to take account of their negative impact on biodiversity and (ii) to promote and further positive biodiversity conservation, and thereby (iii) enable each local authority to integrate and co-ordinate delivery of action on a corporate basis. This will in turn enable actions from Habitat and Species Action Plans to be matched, where relevant, to the work of local authorities and to identify the appropriate departments which should take the lead and which other departments should also be involved.

   Addresses Constraints:

   A, G, H

   
   
   
   
2. Identify means of targeting resources to provide 'best value' on corporate delivery of action.

   Implication

   This will enable each Department and/or Directorate to identify resources that may be made available that could, directly or indirectly, contribute to biodiversity conservation. Likewise, each Department and Directorate should identify where resources are being used/expended that will lead to conflicts with biodiversity conservation.

   Addresses Constraints:

   C, D, G, K

   
   
   
   
3. Promote the benefits of biodiversity conservation within the political arena.

   Implication

   This will raise awareness of biodiversity issues amongst all elected members and should ensure that political decision making is as well informed on biodiversity issues as it is on some other local authority activities, and also that the implications of not taking action are equally well understood. Examples of how awareness can be raised include:

   - Site visits
   - Special Issue Papers to Committee
   - Biodiversity Seminars and Workshops
   - and Meetings with local, regional and national biodiversity partners.

   Addresses Constraints:

   C and therefore probably all others

   
   
   
   
4. Provide senior management with well reasoned and cost effective initiatives for biodiversity action, based on statutory requirements, central policy guidance, and local political and community needs and aspirations.

   Implication

   This will enable senior and middle managers to make more informed and consistent decisions about the allocation of resources and over the implementation of action for biodiversity.

   Addresses Constraints:

   A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, K

   
   
   
   
5. Provide funding and/or other in-kind support for the collection and management of biodiversity data.

   Implication

   This will ensure that, prior to undertaking any activity, local authorities are able to make informed decisions across all of their functions based on adequate information. This will be particularly important where they have a statutory responsibility for collecting and using information; for instance: under the Town and Country Planning Act (Section 11 and 30) where LPAs are required to ensure that local plans are based on fully adequate information about local species, habitats, geology and landforms (see PPG 9 Section 24).

   Addresses Constraints:

   A, B, H, I, J, L

   
   
   
   
6. Identify potential conflicts between other local authority activities and biodiversity conservation and to attempt to eliminate or minimise such conflicts.

   Implication

   This should ensure local authorities identify and avoid areas of activity which may be in contravention of nature conservation legislation, and avoid or minimise areas of activity which are in conflict with national, regional and local biodiversity policies.

   Addresses Constraints:

   E, G, H, L

   
   
   
   
7. Identify appropriate opportunities to implement all relevant statutory duties and powers relating to nature conservation.

   Implication

   This will ensure that local authorities are fully aware of their legal responsibilities and thus able to comply with relevant legislation relating to nature conservation (biodiversity). It should also provide local authorities with greater understanding and more effective use of the statutory powers which they may exercise in the promotion, protection and management of biodiversity.

   Addresses Constraints:

   A, C, D, E, F

   
   
   
   
8. Identify means to enable different local authorities to co-ordinate collective action for biodiversity conservation.

   Implication

   This will ensure cross boundary cooperation, pooling of resources and the achievement of biodiversity targets across political and administrative boundaries. Many local authorities employ (or could employ) a LBAP Coordinator to achieve such coordination internally between departments and externally with LBAP partners.

   Addresses Constraints:

   J, K, L

   
   
   
   
9. Secure ready access to locally available ecological expertise.

   Implication

   This should ensure that the authority is aware of its statutory duties and responsibilities and also has all the professional competence and expertise with which to implement action (for instance as described in Tables 4.1 to 4.8 and in appendix 2) and to discharge its duties in a cost effective manner.

   Addresses Constraints:

   B and probably all others (dependant upon C and D)

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Useful References on Best Value, Performance Indicators and Sustainability