Minutes:
Councillor Mrs Laws explained that there are various policies coming forwards with regards to wildlife and nature on how to retain it. She stated that she has recently learnt that there are only two species of bees that actually require a colony and the rest operate independently. Councillor Mrs Laws made the point that there are several companies that are making bee bricks which can be just one brick costing under a pound which can be included in a new build or a renovation project. She explained that the bees nestle into the portholes and lay their eggs which then hatch and there is no danger to people. Councillor Mrs Laws stated that as part of the focus on helping and promoting nature, including improving the bee population, consideration is going to be given as to whether it should be included in the new Local Plan. She explained that KLWN DC have adopted the policy along with Brighton and Hove who have had a policy in place for some time and, therefore, it maybe something that agents and developers wish to consider going forward when submitting applications.
Councillor Mrs Laws explained that the population of swifts has dropped considerably this year due to the fact that their habitat has been removed. She explained that 70% of the waste material from the china clay pits in Cornwall could be made into bricks and included in the eaves of properties which would attract the swift population with a cost of implication of 75 -80 pence per brick. Councillor Mrs Laws stated that swift population is in significant decline and they are likely to become not only a protected species but also classified as at risk.
JM stated that there a number of environmental obligations which are going to fall on developers over the next few months and years and he asked whether the measures that Councillor Mrs Laws has made reference to will count towards biodiversity net gain because if they do, in his opinion, they would be easy wins for a developer which they may be happy to incorporate, but if they are not because of the way biodiversity net gain is measured in terms of width of lengths of hedges or areas and bits of land in most cases, he would anticipate that there will be more resistance. JM stated that he would require some clarity on how the scheme would fit into the biodiversity net gain matrices and if it does, in his opinion, he can see it working very well for agents and developers as it does not add much costs and does not take up any more space.
DW made the point that he applauds what Councillor Mrs Laws is trying to do and it is something that he has already started to implement in some of his properties and it is something that he will continue to do so with any future developments.
Councillor Mrs Laws stated that she will come back and provide further information, but she is aware that in other areas of the country developers have applauded it due to the low cost.
PH stated that he does not think that it will assist the biodiversity net gain issue but, in his opinion, it is a good thing to do at a low cost when considering the wider benefit both environmentally and for marketing sales. He added it would be interesting to find out whether there are different colour ranges that can be used as well so aesthetically they blend and are more in keeping. Councillor Mrs Laws stated that there are a range of different colours of the bricks available.
CP stated that with regards to the cost of the bricks, it would be interesting to know the supplier who has provided the costs of the bricks at £1 per brick as she is aware that these bricks are installed in some of the properties she deals with and there appears to be a significant difference in cost. Councillor Mrs Laws agreed to share the finer detail.