Issue - meetings

Report of Corporate Director Communities

Purpose of report

To advise Members of the forthcoming statutory requirements in respect of biodiversity under the Environment Act 2021 and of the on-going preparation for meeting those requirements.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1         To note the requirements of the Environment Act 2021 in respect of biodiversity and the on-going preparation for the introduction of statutory Biodiversity Net Gain requirements as set out in the report.

1.2         To approve the preparation of a revised Community Biodiversity Plan in the interest of meeting the statutory general biodiversity objective, to monitor the progress in delivering that Plan and to keep it under review.

Resolved

(1)          That the requirements of the Environment Act 2021 in respect of biodiversity and the on-going preparation for the introduction of statutory Biodiversity Net Gain requirements be noted.

(2)          That the preparation of a revised Community Biodiversity Plan in the interest of meeting the statutory general biodiversity objective, to monitor the progress in delivering that Plan and to keep it under review be approved.

The Corporate Director Communities submitted a report to advise Members of the forthcoming statutory requirements in respect of biodiversity under the Environment Act 2021 and of the on-going preparation for meeting those requirements.

Resolved

(1)          That the requirements of the Environment Act 2021 in respect of biodiversity and the on-going preparation for the introduction of statutory Biodiversity Net Gain requirements be noted.

(2)          That the preparation of a revised Community Biodiversity Plan in the interest of meeting the statutory general biodiversity objective, to monitor the progress in delivering that Plan and to keep it under review be approved.

Reasons

The Council needs to be ready to conform with the requirements of the Environment Act 2021 in relation to biodiversity.  Additional ecologist resource has been acquired and officers are preparing for the expected introduction of the statutory requirement to deliver Biodiversity Net Gain. The delay in implementation to January 2024 provides some additional time but there is a need to continue preparation at pace, albeit while further guidance is awaited. It should be noted that January 2024 will be the real start of the process. To assist meeting the Council’s obligations and to ensure an integrated approach to achieving the biodiversity objective, it is recommended that a revised Community Biodiversity Plan is prepared.

Alternative options

The Council must complete its first consideration of what action it can properly take to further the general biodiversity objective by 1 January 2024 (i.e. one year after Section 102 of the Act became effective). It must agree the policies and objectives for taking action as soon as practicable after this which might include revising existing policies and objectives.  It must then take the action to meet the biodiversity objective. The Executive could decide that the preparation of a revised Community Biodiversity Plan is not the action it would wish to take to further the general biodiversity objective by 1 January 2024.  However, the Council’s Community Nature Plan 2020-22 provides a clear starting point for review and should Members decide to take alternative action, this action would need to be determined by 1 January 2024.