PLANS to designate the Forest a “Biosphere” need to be independently assessed, a councillor has said.

The Green administration at the Forest Council is backing a bid to become a United Nations Biosphere “where communities work together to balance the needs of people and nature.”

But a motion placed before the full council meeting last week called for work and funding on the project to be halted until an independent full business case had been prepared.

Cllr Stuart Graham (Reform, Cinderford East) claimed the evidence being used to support the application “is not independent or fit for purpose enough to commit more money and officer time.”

He said: “Best practice is that, before now, we should have had an independent business case, examining the strategic, economic, commercial, financial and management factors.

“The 2019 Forest Economic Partnership report that we currently rely on is not an independent business case, nor does it validly substitute as one.

“That report itself stated that organisations were responsible for checking the information it gave.

“The report has instead been taken at face value.

“The reports claim that every £1 invested in a Forest biosphere would return £3.89 is still propagated as though it were an established economic fact. It is not.

“It is demonstrably wrong and must be withdrawn.

“That wrong calculation arose from misrepresentation of underlying academic research into the Entelbuch biosphere in Switzerland.

“The modest cost and delay of exploration via a business case would have been remains comparatively small to the apparent excess of over £100,000, now already spent, and the intended spend of several million over the next couple of decades.

“An independent business case may support the biosphere, it may recommend changes, or it may identify better ways.

“Continuing as we are is simply causing universal upset and may end up putting a dodgy cart before a weak horse.”

Cllr Andrew McDermid (Green, Lydney East) asked if Cllr Stuart had enquired if the councils in the seven existing UK Biospheres had business cases prepared and if they had not why should the Forest be different?

Cllr Stuart said his only concern was the Forest.

Cllr Jonathan Lane (Green, Tidenham) asked if there was evidence of Biospheres causing economic harm.

Cllr Graham said he had not claimed they would do economic harm but he had shown the case for designation was weak.

Cllr Andy Green (Green, Newnham) asked for examples where designation imposed regulations and why caution applied only to the benefits and not demonstrated experience elsewhere?

Cllr Graham said the questions were not relevant because the motion was about obtaining a proper business case.

The motion was not put to the vote as the meeting had reached itsthree-hour maximum.

There is leeway to allow the Chair to propose a one-hour extension if the rest of the agenda could be completed.

Chair Cllr Di Martin, (Lab, Cinderford East) did not believe the outstanding items could be completed.

The council was due to reconvene on (Wednesday, October 27) to complete the business.