Agenda item
Motion Submitted by the Green Party Group - Reduce Grass Cutting to Increase Biodiversity in Parks and Roadsides
This Council notes:
Scientists have reported that our planet faces a biodiversity crisis that is threatening the planets eco-system and we need to reverse that decline [1]. This council can be proactive by reducing grass verge maintenance which will encourage habitat for insects and wildlife. By reducing maintenance on verges, parkland and other areas this council can also reduce costs: Dorset Council has saved £93,000, Burnley estimates £50,000 [2] and Rochdale Council plans £40,000 worth of savings. Over 80 per cent (81%) of the public back calls for councils to help Britain’s under-threat bees by cutting areas of grass less often states a YouGov poll for Friends of the Earth and Buglife [3].
This Council believes:
? That planting more wildflowers and other bee friendly plants in their local parks and community spaces will increase biodiversity.
? Allowing some areas to remain uncut can help Trafford provide corridors for wildlife to thrive which in turn creates increased wellbeing for residents [4].
? Allowing grassland and strips to remain unmown longer can save costs [5].
This Council resolves to:
? To undertake a year-long audit of roadside verges with the aim to reduce grass-cutting and develop a management policy to improve biodiversity, grassland and save on maintenance costs – highway safety must remain paramount.
? Develop a wildflower planting scheme like Rotherham’s ‘River of Flowers’ and over the next year and identify suitable areas such as roundabouts and central reservations [6]
? Report to Executive by July 2020 with a report based on the roadside audit and a borough-wide consultation with residents.
? Aim to increase grassland areas within parks across the borough by reducing mowing regimes with consultation with Friend Groups and local residents [5]
? Write to the Mayor of Greater Manchester to highlight this green initiative.
Minutes:
It was moved and seconded that:
“This Council notes:
Scientists have reported that our planet faces a biodiversity crisis that is threatening the planets eco-system and we need to reverse that decline [1]. This Council can be proactive by reducing grass verge maintenance which will encourage habitat for insects and wildlife. By reducing maintenance on verges, parkland and other areas this Council can also reduce costs: Dorset Council has saved £93,000, Burnley estimates £50,000 [2] and Rochdale Council plans £40,000 worth of savings. Over 80 per cent (81%) of the public back calls for councils to help Britain’s under-threat bees by cutting areas of grass less often states a YouGov poll for Friends of the Earth and Buglife [3].
This Council believes:
? That planting more wildflowers and other bee friendly plants in their local parks and community spaces will increase biodiversity.
? Allowing some areas to remain uncut can help Trafford provide corridors for wildlife to thrive which in turn creates increased wellbeing for residents [4].
? Allowing grassland and strips to remain unmown longer can save costs [5].
This Council resolves to:
? To undertake a year-long audit of roadside verges with the aim to reduce grass-cutting and develop a management policy to improve biodiversity, grassland and save on maintenance costs – highway safety must remain paramount.
? Develop a wildflower planting scheme like Rotherham’s ‘River of Flowers’ and over the next year identify suitable areas such as roundabouts and central reservations [6]
? Report to Executive by July 2020 with a report based on the roadside audit and a borough-wide consultation with residents.
? Aim to increase grassland areas within parks across the borough by reducing mowing regimes with consultation with Friend Groups and local residents [5]
? Write to the Mayor of Greater Manchester to highlight this green initiative.”
It was moved and seconded as an amendment that:
“The Motion be accepted subject to the slight revision of the proposed resolutions as follows:
This Council resolves to:
? To undertake a year-long audit of roadside verges with the aim to reduce grass-cutting and develop a management policy to improve biodiversity, grassland and save on maintenance costs – highway safety must remain paramount.
? Note the Labour administrations plan to develop a wildflower planting scheme like Rotherham’s ‘River of Flowers’ and over the next year identify suitable areas such as roundabouts and central reservations [6]
? Report to Executive by July 2020 with a report based on the roadside audit and a borough-wide consultation with residents.
? Note the Labour administrations plans to aim to increase grassland areas within parks across the borough by reducing mowing regimes with consultation with Friend Groups and local residents [5]
? Ask the Leader, in line with his Green City Region responsibilities, to look at ways of promoting such innovation across the conurbation”
(Note: The time being 9.25 p.m., the Mayor announced that he would allow one speaker from each of the political groups to speak to this item.)
Following speeches on the matter, the amendment was put to the vote and declared carried. The Substantive Motion was then put to the vote and declared carried.
RESOLVED: That this Council notes:
Scientists have reported that our planet faces a biodiversity crisis that is threatening the planets eco-system and we need to reverse that decline [1]. This Council can be proactive by reducing grass verge maintenance which will encourage habitat for insects and wildlife. By reducing maintenance on verges, parkland and other areas this Council can also reduce costs: Dorset Council has saved £93,000, Burnley estimates £50,000 [2] and Rochdale Council plans £40,000 worth of savings. Over 80 per cent (81%) of the public back calls for councils to help Britain’s under-threat bees by cutting areas of grass less often states a YouGov poll for Friends of the Earth and Buglife [3].
This Council believes:
? That planting more wildflowers and other bee friendly plants in their local parks and community spaces will increase biodiversity.
? Allowing some areas to remain uncut can help Trafford provide corridors for wildlife to thrive which in turn creates increased wellbeing for residents [4].
? Allowing grassland and strips to remain unmown longer can save costs [5].
This Council resolves to:
? To undertake a year-long audit of roadside verges with the aim to reduce grass-cutting and develop a management policy to improve biodiversity, grassland and save on maintenance costs – highway safety must remain paramount.
? Note the Labour administrations plan to develop a wildflower planting scheme like Rotherham’s ‘River of Flowers’ and over the next year identify suitable areas such as roundabouts and central reservations [6]
? Report to Executive by July 2020 with a report based on the roadside audit and a borough-wide consultation with residents.
? Note the Labour administrations plans to aim to increase grassland areas within parks across the borough by reducing mowing regimes with consultation with Friend Groups and local residents [5]
? Ask the Leader, in line with his Green City Region responsibilities, to look at ways of promoting such innovation across the conurbation
