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129   (7)  SILICA PARK LOCAL NATURE RESERVE BAILIFF SCHEME – The Director of Places submitted a report seeking approval for a Bailiff Scheme for Silica Pond Local Nature Reserve.

Silica Park was declared as a Local Nature Reserve (LNR) in 2006.  The main objectives of the LNR were to manage the site for local wildlife and to provide local access.

The site was grassland with a small woodland and large pond with areas of deep water.  The pond was stocked with a variety of fish attracting much local use and increased visitor pressure in the summer.  A grant had been secured from SITA Trust to improve the site for access, fishing and picnic use.  The included a bridge across to the island, fishing platforms, picnic area and bird and bat boxes.

The fishing on site was not managed.  Previous attempts to lease the fishing had failed due to the nature of the site.  A Bailiff Scheme (by way of an Annual Franchise Agreement) would enable fishing activities to be controlled.  The existing user group would effectively take on the franchise and become the volunteer ‘Bailiff’ thus improving the overall management of the site.  This approach had worked well at Ashbyville.

Resolved – (a) That the Bailiff Scheme be approved, and (b) that the Director of Places be authorised to determine who would bailiff the site from any subsequent expressions of interest received.

130   (8) ISO14001 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT REVIEW – The Director of Places submitted a report updating the Cabinet Member on the latest reviews for the ISO14001 standard (the standard), the manual and seeking approval for the audits and action plans, along with the roll out of the standard elsewhere in the council.

The standard assessed the council’s environmental impacts.  It helped to measure consumption of resources and reduced waste.  The main principle of the standard was to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Achieving this meant that real cost savings were achieved, environmental impact was reduced and environmental standing was improved.  The council was audited twice a year against the standard.

To maintain the standard a management review had to be undertaken annually.  Each review required the following to be presented:

• Details of the external auditors findings
• Results of environmental and legal audits
• An action plan to address issues identified within the external and internal audits and by the steering group

The report gave details of which areas had been looked into by both internal and external auditors.  The standard now covered all of the Places and Policy and Resources Directorates, the People Directorate could be incorporated in 2014.

Resolved – (a) That the manual, audits and action plan appended to the report be approved, and (b) that the standard be rolled out to the People Directorate in 2014.