Introduction and context
Sully and Lavernock Community Council provide a range of services to its local community which have an impact on biodiversity. These include the provision of football, cricket and bowls facilities and the opportunity to develop allotments, all on land owned by the Vale of Glamorgan Council. The Community Council owns a small patch of land at a former lay-by on Lavernock Road. It is heavily overgrown and will be left alone.
Following a period during which the council had to address a number of internal personnel matters the election of a new council in 2022 provided the opportunity for a reset across a number of policy areas, not least our local biodiversity. A survey of residents in part of Lavernock ward demonstrated enthusiasm for rewilding and this has been matched anecdotally by residents in Sully ward. Following the election one particular councillor has been tasked with taking the work forward.
This report covers activity since the AGM of 17 May 2022. We recognise however that for a bio-diversity programme to have the necessary long-term impact it needs to be sustainable beyond the lifetime of any electoral span and owned by a much wider population than mere councillors. The council should have a strategic supporting role and may have to intervene from time to time to ensure it meets its Section 6 duty but the more widely owned the strategy the better.
We serve 4,699 residents and receive a precept of £99,400.