The Cabinet has decided to approve the publication of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Greater Manchester.

URL: https://committees.oldham.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=5446

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose:

Content: The Cabinet considered a report of the Executive Director of Place/Deputy Chief Executive that sought approval that the Council would be content for the Local Nature Recovery Strategy to be published, on the Council’s website and to authorise the Assistant Director Planning, Transport and Housing Delivery to confirm the same in writing to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and the Mayor of Greater Manchester (GM), as the responsible body for the GM Local Nature Recovery Strategy.?   The Environment Act 2021 introduced the requirement for Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) to cover the whole of England, to set out where and how efforts should be focused locally to contribute to halting and reversing the decline in biodiversity.   The GM LNRS represented an opportunity to set out a long-term vision for a greener city region, where nature is returning, and more people have better access to greenspace.   The strategy covered the following: a.    A shared vision for nature recovery in Greater Manchester b.    Shared priorities and targets for nature recovery c.    Actions we can all work towards to help deliver them d.    Maps of a Greater Manchester Nature Network made up of: e.    Core local nature sites - existing valuable areas for nature f.     Nature Recovery Opportunity Areas - opportunity areas where action should be focused across the city-region.   Officers at Oldham Council had inputted into the LNRS through various workshops and meetings. The LNRS was also publicly consulted on between November 15th 2024 and January 31st 2025.   The Cabinet was informed that the report had been considered by the Place, Economic Growth and Environment Scrutiny Board, held on 12th June 2025, where the recommendations were supported and endorsed.   Options/alternatives considered: Option 1 - Oldham Council to agree that they are content for the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) to be published; and authorise the Assistant Director Planning, Transport and Housing Delivery to confirm the same in writing to the GMCA and the Mayor as the responsible body for the GM LNRS.?This would allow support for the GM LNRS to be expressed, allowing the LNRS to be published once all supporting authorities have confirmed their support. There are no disadvantages to this option. Option 2 - Oldham Council to disagree that they are content for the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) to be published; and to give a publication advisory notice to the responsible authority outlining that they disagree with the publication of the strategy based on one the grounds under article 15 of the LNRS regulations within 28 days of the receipt of the final LNRS. This would allow for any valid objections to be raised and considered but would delay a nature recovery network being published. Option 1 was the preferred Option.   Resolved: 1.    That the Cabinet notes the Place, Economic Growth and Environment Scrutiny Board endorsement and support for the recommendations, detailed in the submitted report, on this item, from their meeting held on 12th June 2025. 2.    That Cabinet notes that this item will be exempt from call-in, under Rule 14 of the Constitution, as the report has already been considered by the Place, Economic Growth and Environment Scrutiny Board. 3.    That the Cabinet approves the content for the Local Nature Recovery Strategy to be published. 4.    That the Cabinet authorises the Assistant Director Planning, Transport and Housing Delivery to confirm the same in writing to the GMCA and the Mayor as the responsible body for the GM Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

Date of Decision: June 16, 2025