This session is limited to 30 minutes.
1. From Mr G Kirby to Councillor Collier, Cabinet Member for Property Management and Grounds Maintenance
What specific and immediate initiatives is the Council starting to support the Kent County Council Plan Bee pollinator action plan launched in November this year?
2. From Mr M Brophy to Councillor Monk, Leader of the Council
Building a new leisure centre for Hythe at Martello Lakes has become far more viable due to a shortening of timescales when compared with Prince's Parade. There is increasing evidence that Prince's Parade is more complex, more expensive, under threat from flooding (particularly due to more frequent extreme weather events) and is overall a problematic site to develop. So I would like to ask the leader if he would instruct a proper investigation into the merits of the Martello Lakes site in preference to Prince's Parade considering recent changes in relevant factors.
3. From A Dakin to Councillor Monk, Leader of the Council
In light of the Prime Minister’s commitment to preserving green spaces and wildlife habitats, will the council follow his example and withdraw the hugely unpopular plans for the development at Princes Parade?
Minutes:
1. From Mr G Kirby to Councillor Collier, Cabinet Member for Property Management and Grounds Maintenance
What specific and immediate initiatives is the Council starting to support the Kent County Council Plan Bee pollinator action plan launched in November this year?
ANSWER:
Thank you for your question.
1) In winter 2019 FHDC Grounds Maintenance instigated a meeting between KCC, the Bumblebee Conservation Trust and FHDC’s contractor to discuss a reduction in grass cutting regimes in the New Romney Marsh area. It was agreed that 36 km of B roads would be piloted. The project has proved very successful with all parties, and the area covered under the new ecology management is now 70km.
The plan is:
70km continuous Bee Road network = 37 Bee Roads
Rural verge cutting delayed to autumn
3 year trial (commenced 2019)
Monitoring improvement to pollinator habitat and populations
Builds on project carried out by Bumblebee Conservation Trust
This is now being used as an example to other local authorities across the country.
2) Many initiatives were already in place before the launch:
· Minimal use of pesticides. Pesticide trial was planned for summer 2020 but was postponed due to Covid19
· GM managers have been working on identifying areas owned by FHDC where cutting regimes can be reduced to help increase biodiversity and reduce all environmental impacts (cemeteries, parks and open spaces)
· The Coastal Park and Radnor Park has its own wildlife zone, meadow and bee border.
· The Royal Military Canal has been managed to increase the species count for the last 15 years. A biological survey will be carried out this coming summer to show the results of this management programme. The GM teams have been closely working with the Bumblebee and Butterfly and Moth Trusts and spent many volunteering hours planting moth, butterfly and bumble bee friendly habitat.
· Sedum matting has been trialled at the Coastal Park on the new operational depot roof, one of the many benefits is the provision of important microclimate for insects.
· Seasonal bedding is designed with pollinator friendly factor in mind ( variety of pollen- rich single-petalled flowers for ‘easy access’, bright colours, different shapes and scent, prolonged flowering period)
The team are always open to discussing new initiatives and working with volunteers and other interested stakeholders wherever possible.
2. From Mr M Brophy to Councillor Monk, Leader of the Council
Building a new leisure centre for Hythe at Martello Lakes has become far more viable due to a shortening of timescales when compared with Prince's Parade. There is increasing evidence that Prince's Parade is more complex, more expensive, under threat from flooding (particularly due to more frequent extreme weather events) and is overall a problematic site to develop. So I would like to ask the leader if he would instruct a proper investigation into the merits of the Martello Lakes site in preference to Prince's Parade considering recent changes in relevant factors.
ANSWER:
Thank you for your question.
In terms of the issue of the comparative timescales the Princes Parade scheme is now very well advanced. Planning permission for the scheme is in place, the Council owns the land and the appointment of a contractor and further work on the scheme, including site investigations, detailed design and other preparatory work can now take place during the course of next year with a view to construction commencing in 2022. Any scheme for Martello Lakes would need to go through a lengthy process before it got to such a similarly advanced stage.
On the issue of flood risk the site is classified as being at a very low risk of flooding within the Council’s Strategic Flood Risk Assessment, the lowest category, and further measures have been incorporated into the design such as all ground floor levels being at least 7.8 meters above sea level in order to further reduce any risk. More generally it is my view that the Princes Parade would deliver a range of benefits that the Martello Lakes option will not deliver including the cleaning up of a contaminated site, a new and useable public park, a widened promenade in a traffic free environment and the provision of both affordable and market housing. The site is also well located and accessible by a range of different travel modes including cycling, walking and public transport. For those reasons I do not consider that the Martello Lakes option needs to be given further consideration.
3. From A Dakin to Councillor Monk, Leader of the Council
In light of the Prime Minister’s commitment to preserving green spaces and wildlife habitats, will the council follow his example and withdraw the hugely unpopular plans for the development at Princes Parade?
ANSWER:
Thank you for your question.
I do not intend to withdraw the Princes Parade because, as set out in the answer to the previous question, it will deliver a range of benefits including bringing back into productive use a contaminated site and the provision of public parkland. In addition compensatory habitats for a range of species will be created within the substantial areas of green space to be retained and re-provided within the development. A detailed landscape and ecological management plan will protect the long-term value of these habitats, including foraging, shelter and breeding opportunities for protected species for example house sparrow boxes and reptile hibernacula.