Agenda item

To consider the attached Notices of Motion, submitted in accordance with Rule 4a.26 of the Council’s Constitution:

(a)  Proposed by Councillor Emma Beard: The motion proposes that the Council recognises the importance of the rivers Rother, Arun and Adur, and commits to the development of a ‘Rivers Charter’.

(b)  Proposed by Councillor Claudia Fisher: In light of the conflict in the Middle East, the motion proposes that the Council explores supporting and facilitating events, supports affected residents, and those displaced by events of conflict. The motion further proposes that the Council condemns the use of dehumanising language and calls on communities to treat each other with respect.

The following motion was moved by Councillor Claudia Fisher, and seconded by Councillor Colette Blackburn:

‘England is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. This fact is officially recognised by the Government, in the form of a commitmentto createa nationalNature RecoveryNetwork (NRN)which will be based on the Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) mandated by the Environment Act 2021.

An aspirational Nature Recovery Network has been mapped for the District. This is largely based aroundwaterways, especially rivers which, by themselves, are crucially important as wildlife corridors and as habitats.But to deliver in this role within the NRN, our rivers need to flownaturally throughthe landscape,with curvesand bends,flood plains and natural river margins and banks.The natural river margins and banks, including the wider riparian area, provide distinct habitats and protect the river against runoff of pollutants, sedimentation and erosion of the riverbank.Good water quality is essential for wildlife and for people.

Horsham Districthosts twomain riversand theirassociated watersheds. Both the Western Adur and the Arun rise and start their journeys in our District.The journey of a third river, the Rother (a river of great significance for the South Downs National Park) finishes when it joins the Arun north of Hardham.

In 2019, every river in England failed to meet quality tests for pollution. Here, in Horsham, the Council is already working hard on turning that aroundand showingits intentionto bea leadinglight innature recovery with the Wilder Horsham District initiative, its involvement in the Adur River Recovery project and its partnership with the Weald to Waves initiative.

We wish to ask for better official recognition of the importance of our rivers’ health.We are in a position now to move faster towards a world where there is a healthier balance between humans and the natural worldso thatwe canensure thatdecisions andpolicies madetoday hold fast for the health and happiness of future generations of the rivers’ people, flora and fauna.

In doingthis, weare recognisingour crucialrole innature’s recovery in our District and beyond.

ThisCouncil recognises:

(a)   The importance of the rivers Rother, Arun and Adur to the wellbeing and health of Horsham District’s communities, businesses, agriculture and visitors and, in doing so, acknowledges the need to protectthese riversby supportingand maintainingtheir healthyflora, fauna and complex ecosystems.

Ittherefore commits to:

(b)   The development of a ‘Rivers Charter’ (the terms of which will be approvedby Horsham DistrictCouncil) which(if viable) willbuild on the work that is already taking place in the District.As such, the Council would liketo workalongside theArun andRother RiverTrust, theOuse and Adur River Trust, the Adur River Recovery project, the Sussex Wildlife Trust, the South Downs National Park Authority, the Farm Clusters and landowners, as well as other stakeholders, so our rivers, our communities and the natural environment, of which we are the custodians, can thrive and flourish in perpetuity.’

The Motion was debated. During the debate, it was suggested that the Council was already carrying out, in full, the matters for which it has powers and duties for. The issue of pollution and water quality was highlighted, and the need to work with Southern Water. Concerns were raised in relation to work required with other bodies, and it was suggested that measurable problems needed to be identified.

Members also spoke in support of the motion, and suggested that working with other organisations should produce better outcomes. Members raised the issues that have been experienced with flooding, in the District, and that a focus on rivers should have beneficial outcomes in relation this. It was suggested that the Charter would be a public way of recognising the work that is already being carried out, and would encourage further momentum.

Following a vote, the motion was declared CARRIED.

The Chairman, in accordance with Rule 4a.14(e), asked Members to vote as to whether to take the next Motion, as detailed on the agenda, as 30 minutes had elapsed. The motion was LOST.