Issue - meetings

Option 2:

·       Agree that the templates for decisions to full council provides sufficient regard for the Biosphere within the development of Policies, Strategies and Decisions taken by the council.

·       Agree to adopt and build the document ‘Supporting the IW UNESCO Biosphere, into the workstream planning of the work of the council.

·       Create and support a Biosphere Steering Committee in accordance with the ‘Supporting the IW UNESCO Biosphere’ document. The Committee is to be administratively supported by the Council and is to work alongside the Mission Zero Hub currently under development.

The framework was intended to assist in taking forward and developing the UNESCO biosphere status of the island. There were 17 goals set out in the document which were intended to create a sustainable future for the island and its residents and visitors. Since the status had been awarded progress had so far been slowed due to the pandemic, however it was hoped to move forward with integrating the goals into planning and policy, which would cut across all portfolios. A steering group was to be set up to promote the aims of the biosphere, which would be independently chaired. Many people had contributed to the framework and the Cabinet Member asked for his thanks to be recorded to Richard Grove and Joel Bateman of the AONB.

Member training sessions on the biosphere would be announced soon.

A suggestion was made that the document should be rewritten in Plain English, to make it easier for the ordinary person to understand.

The Corporate Scrutiny Committee had supported the recommendations and would be monitoring the delivery of actions.

Consideration was given to the report which sought the Cabinet’s approval to adopt the ‘Supporting the IW UNESCO Biosphere’ document and to create and support a Biosphere Steering Committee. Questions were raised regarding the membership of the steering group, how the principles in the document could be integrated into future developments, and the involvement of utility companies in relation to marine conservation zones.

RESOLVED:

THAT the recommendations be supported, and the delivery of actions associated with this matter be monitored by the Committee.