A Local Authority Performance Indicator for Biodiversity

A Local Authority Performance Indicator for Biodiversity

David Knight

NI 197

Local Authority Performance Indicator for Biodiversity

Background

• Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007

• end of Comprehensive Performance Assessment of Local Authorities

• introduction of Local Strategic Partnerships and Local Area Agreements

• 1200 LA performance indicators replaced by c. 200 national indicators of Local Authority performance

• LAAs to include 35 improvement targets

Local Authority Performance Indicator for Biodiversity

Why have a Local Authority Performance Indicator for Biodiversity

Local Authorities have a responsibility for biodiversity Biodiversity is a significant area of activity for Local

Authorities LA performance for biodiversity would not be reflected

within another LA performance indicator Performance Indicator for biodiversity would be a

meaningful indicator for performance relating to wider environmental quality

A biodiversity indicator could reflect performance in number of areas of service delivery

Local Authority Performance Indicator for Biodiversity

Why have a Local Authority Performance Indicator for Biodiversity

risk and consequences of not having one

Local Authority Performance Indicator for Biodiversity

Is it possible to develop an indicator of Local Authority performance for biodiversity?

Biodiversity performance is measurable and that a single measure can be derived as an effective surrogate to reporting all activity for biodiversity

Local Authority Performance Indicator for Biodiversity

Is it possible to develop an indicator of Local Authority performance for biodiversity?

The proposed indicator would comply with the criteria.. Measurable Outcome focussed Relevant Reliable/comparable over time Attributable to Local Authority Not act as a perverse incentive Not impose significant cost implications Must not be a ‘composite’ indicator

Local Authority Performance Indicator for Biodiversity

Potential indicators

• SSSI condition within area of Local Authority

• Proportion of Local Authority owned/controlled land managed for biodiversity

• Impact of development control decisions on biodiversity

• Provision of accessible greenspace

• Farmland/ woodland bird populations

• Delivering biodiversity through Local Sites

Local Authority Performance Indicator for Biodiversity

Delivery of biodiversity through Local Sites

Measurable ? Outcome focussedRelevant Reliable/comparable over timeAttributable to Local AuthorityNot act as a perverse incentiveNot impose significant cost implicationsNot a composite indicator

Local Authority Performance Indicator for Biodiversity

Local Sites

• More than 37,000 Local Sites delivering UK and Local BAP and GAP targets

• Comprehensive rather than representative suite of sites• Part of networks provide buffering and connectivity

contributing to resilience to climate change• Represent local character and distinctiveness• Contribute to quality of life and well-being, providing

opportunities for appreciation of nature, research and education

Local Authority Performance Indicator for Biodiversity

Local Sites

• ‘Grass-roots’ designation• recognised in national guidance• partnership of Government, voluntary and private

sectors• leadership role for Local Authorities• extensive national coverage• well-established, good track record

Local Sites Guidance

one of three pillars of local partnership

Local Sites

Local Records Centre

Local BAP/GAP

• Performance is a simple percentage calculated as follows….

X/Y x 100 = %

where.. X is the number of sites in the LA area where positive conservation management is being or has been implemented during the last five years. Y is the total number of Local Sites within the LAs administrative area at the time of reporting.

Local Authority Performance Indicator for Biodiversity

•Management Plan – a plan has been written and has been/is being implemented

•Management Schemes - the site is being managed in accordance with an environmental management scheme such as Environmental Stewardship, Countryside Stewardship, Woodland Grant Scheme

•Biodiversity Action Plan - management activity carried out in accordance with a Biodiversity Action Plan, including HAP, SAP, LBAP (or GAP where relevant)

•Advice – advice on conservation management has been provided by the local sites partnership and has been/is being acted upon

Assessing ‘positive conservation management’

Assessing ‘positive conservation management’

How much of site needs to be managed?

– A site should score if the management is considered substantive and contributes to the conservation of the features for which the site was selected.

– Management should be at a level or rate in order to conserve the features in the long-term

Local Authority Performance Indicator for Biodiversity

Some common questions.....

- are geological sites included?

Local Authority Performance Indicator for Biodiversity

Some common questions.....

- is there a fixed proportion of a site which should be covered by a Management Scheme for it to be considered to be in positive management?

Local Authority Performance Indicator for Biodiversity

Some common questions.....

- are there any circumstances where non-intervention can score as positive management?

Local Authority Performance Indicator for Biodiversity

Some common questions.....

- what is the role of Local Sites Partnerships?

Local Authority Performance Indicator for Biodiversity

Some common questions.....

- can a site score where a management scheme has expired within the last five years?

Local Authority Performance Indicator for Biodiversity

Some common questions.....

- do Districts report against this indicator?

Local Authority Performance Indicator for Biodiversity

Some common questions.....

- does the assessment include only Local Sites owned by local authorities?

Local Authority Performance Indicator for Biodiversity

Some common questions.....

- What audit trail is required to indicate that a site is in positive management?

Local Authority Performance Indicator for Biodiversity

Some common questions.....

- is evidence gathered by desk-based means sufficient?

Local Authority Performance Indicator for Biodiversity

Some common questions.....

- is it essential for management to relate to a plan of some kind?

Local Authority Performance Indicator for Biodiversity

Some common questions.....

- can the indicator be based on a sample of Local Sites in the local authority area?

Local Authority Performance Indicator for Biodiversity

Some common questions.....

- are Local Nature Reserves or SSSIs required to be included in the indicator?

Local Authority Performance Indicator for Biodiversity

Some common questions.....

- will there be an opportunity to provide contextual information when reporting against this indicator on the Data Hub?

Local Authority Performance Indicator for Biodiversity

Some common questions.....

- what happens when the number of sites in a local authority’s area changes, for example, if new sites are identified and designated?

Local Authority Performance Indicator for Biodiversity

Some common questions.....

- for local authorities who did not select NI 197 for their LAAs, is there an obligation to deliver progress against NI 197 or simply to report?

Local Authority Performance Indicator for Biodiversity

Successes

• secured a national indicator for Local Authority performance for Biodiversity

• 26 Local Area Agreements have improvement targets based on NI 197

• catalyst to promote join up between LBAPs, Local Sites, LRCs

• greater engagement between Defra, GOs, LAs, WTs and others over biodiversity

• a means of demonstrating commitment toward s40 duty

Local Authority Performance Indicator for Biodiversity

For more information.....

http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/localgovindicators/ni197.htm

Duncan.williams@defra.gsi.gov.ukDavid.knight@naturalengland.org.uk

David Knight,Team Leader, Biodiversity, Plants and FungiNatural England,Bullring HouseNorthgateWakefieldWF1 3BJ

david.knight@naturalengland.org.uk

Thank you