LONDON BOROUGH BIODIVERSITY FORUM

21st March 2003 at the Association of London Government
36 Old Queen Street.

Present

Andrew Bedford (Chair) AB
Kay Pollaris (LB Tower Hamlets) KP
Stephania Horne (LB Redbridge) SH
Mike Brain (LB Bexley) MB
Mike Waite (GLA) MK
Mary-Claire Edwards (RB Kingston-upon-Thames) ME
Emma Banthorpe (LB Hammersmith & Fulham) EB
Emily Raynolds (LB Wandsworth) ER
Gaye Galvin (LB Camden) GG
Sue Gough (British Trust for Ornithology) SG
Keith Noble (RSPB SE England) KN
Filipe (Trainee, Brent Parks Service) F
William Moreno (London Biodiversity Partnership) WM
Sarah Sing (LB Hillingdon) SS
Richard Barns (LB Sutton) RB
Alister Hayes (LB of Bromley & vice-chair) AH

Apologies

Mike Fitt, Nick Ely and Lesley Williams.

New Structure

AB explained the new structure for the LBBF (four new vice-chairs to be present at key LBP's working group meetings). No comments were made about the new arrangement. AB thanked Alister Hayes for the job done over the years.

BTO- London Bird Survey (Sue Gough from the BTO)

SG talked about the extent of the BTO's survey, SG can be contacted on [email protected] for more information about the project and to obtain copies of the biannual newsletter for observers.

London House Sparrow Update (Keith Noble, RSPB)

RSPB is planing to erect nest boxes for house sparrows across Greater London so that the occupants can be studied in detail. They want to involve RSPB members, volunteers and other organisations, the costs could be shared among the participating organisations and they foresee benefits in education, publicity and partnership building. KN would like the LBs to take active part in the project, specially the ones with related SAPs, and offered full support for those interested in joining the scheme. There are plans to incorporate the scheme to the LBP's funding strategy to seek alternative sources of funding. KN will be distributing a more developed idea in due course. There was a general feeling that the LB's would like to participate.

KN also offered to provide more information about the Wildlife for all 'Birds are Brilliant' project and the National House Sparrow project and could distribute recorder forms on request. Contact KN on [email protected]

London Biodiversity Partnership Business Plan

WM gave a brief update on the plan progress and pointed out that after a second round of consultations the working group intents to publish the document in September 2003. RB mentioned that the Plan should be "sold" to the borough's Chief Executives and that the issue of funding should be discussed at the Mayor's Biodiversity Forum.

Records Centre

After a long debate on the possible role to be played by the records centre some to the forum members felt that more needs to be known about the centre's real benefits and that the GLA should contribute financially towards its establishment. SH explained the Service Level Agreement process and pointed out that it was a good system as it could be renewed annually, she also mentioned that the boroughs are under legal obligation to handle ecological information. MW suggested establishing a grant aid scheme in order to kick-start the centre and prove that it could work. Some forum members questioned the centre's potential contribution to the planning process, AH pointed out that the boroughs need a centre and that without their support it may never happen. AH also mentioned that is essential that the LBP establish and manage the centre.

Borough Updates

AB asked for positive and negative updates.

Hillingdon: SS introduced herself, so far they haven't come across any major challenges as their BAP development process just started.

Redbridge: They are creating a wildflower meadow and a successful tree-training scheme is under way. On the negative side, SH mentioned that the Farmland HAP is not going so well as some of the participants see the FWAG not viable for them.

Islington: A good garden survey is under way and it may be expanded across the borough.

Merton: They've managed to secure further funding but at the same time the conservation staff has been reduced. The Community Strategy has been drafted without consulting the conservation team. Kingston: The council has agreed to designate a 45-hectare hay meadow site after 15 years of pressure.

Camden: Successful launch of Swift website and several sites are planned to be designated. LBAP implementation is proving slow.

Sutton: An Ecological Centre Manager has been appointed and EN has provided funds for a Wild Spaces Officer, a BAP officer could be appointed for a year. Departmental reorganisation has affected the ecology team.

Hammersmith & Fulham: They have obtained funding for a Nature Conservation Manager and the LBAP development process has started with the establishment of a partnership. Draft document should be produced by April.

Bexley: Private gardens pack has been produced. Departmental reorganisation has affected the ecology team and the community strategy was not widely consulted.

Tower Hamlets: A draft LBAP was successfully launched. The planning department lacks enthusiasm.

Bromley: Surveys have continued and a new Urban HAP has been developed. The Woodland Trust recently acquired a new reserve in the area.

Brent: Update for the UK BAP.

Islington: Partnership has been established and a Built Environment HAP is being developed. At the moment they are having bad relations with the park contractors.

AOB

Dates for the diary; Londoners Wildlife Gardening Fair at the Natural History Museum, 28th of June. Grey Heron Day 5th of April and the Mayor's Biodiversity Strategy on the 28th of March.

The GLA will shortly send a letter to all the boroughs asking to update their contact details. The BBC program 'Wildlife on your Park' is asking for locations. MB mentioned that there are too many surveys taking place (like the BTO) and suggested that the LBP website could advertise such events. AB asked forum members to provide ideas for talks.

Next meeting, 18th of July 2pm ALG

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