The Cabinet has decided to support the approval of the Berkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy by the Responsible Authority, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.

URL: https://democratic.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=4009

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose: To support the approval of the Berkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy by the Responsible Authority, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.

Content: To support the approval of the Berkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy by the Responsible Authority, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. RESOLVED that   i.       Bracknell Forest Council endorses the approval of the Berkshire LNRS by the Responsible Authority, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, provided any feedback raised by officers is adequately addressed before 8 August 2025.   ii.     final authority to agree minor amendments and endorse the approval of the Berkshire LNRS is delegated to the Executive Director Place, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transport and Countryside. i.       Local nature recovery strategies (LNRSs) are spatial strategies for nature and environmental improvement required by law under the Environment Act 2021. Each LNRS will agree priorities for nature recovery and propose actions in locations where they would make a particular contribution to achieving those priorities.   ii.     Bracknell Forest falls within the Berkshire strategy area. The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has appointed the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM) as the ‘responsible authority’ to lead the preparation of the Berkshire LNRS. The other Berkshire unitary authorities (including Bracknell Forest Council) and Natural England are ‘supporting authorities’.   iii.    This is the first time an LNRS has been produced in Berkshire and for all other LNRS areas in England.   iv.    RBWM has undertaken wide-ranging stakeholder engagement and worked collaboratively with partners over recent months to produce the Berkshire LNRS. The document went through a public consultation and the feedback has been reviewed and incorporated where appropriate.   v.     Under Regulation 13 of Statutory Instruments 2023 No. 341: The Environment (Local Nature Recovery Strategies) (Procedure) Regulations 2023, RBWM as the responsible authority must provide all supporting authorities with its final LNRS which it considers is ready to be published and inform the supporting authorities in writing of its intended date for publication.   vi.    Under Regulation 15, a supporting authority may give a “publication advisory notice” (ie. an objection) within 28 days if the supporting authority considers that part of a final LNRS cannot be justified based on the results of the public consultation or the supporting authority considers that the final LNRS is materially deficient. Otherwise, a supporting authority may say nothing within the 28 days or may confirm in writing they are content for the LNRS to be published. In both of these cases, the responsible body may publish the LNRS.   vii.   Bracknell Forest Council received the written elements of the LNRS on 30 June 2025, and the mapped element will be added on 4 July. They are accessible at: Berkshire LNRS - Pre publication draft for SAs | RBWM Together. Please note it is suggested to read the written elements in the following order:   ·       Description of Area ·       Priorities and Potential Measures ·       Species Priorities List   viii. RBWM are allowing supporting authorities longer than the minimum 28-day period to review the final LNRS. The supporting authority consultation period is 30 June to 8 August 2025. Due to the time constraints of the July cabinet within this period, it is recommended that final authority to endorse the approval of the Berkshire LNRS is delegated to the Executive Director Place, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transport and Countryside. This will enable all the available time to be used to review the content and, if necessary, work with the responsible authority to make any required changes.   ix.    However, the Council and other local stakeholders have been involved in the preparation of the strategy. Therefore, it is anticipated that any changes would be minor and the overall recommendation to Cabinet is that Bracknell Forest Council does not give a publication advisory notice and instead confirms in writing that Bracknell Forest Council is content for the LNRS to be published. i.       The alternative options are:   1)    To give a “publication advisory notice” if it is considered that   a) part of a final LNRS cannot be justified based on the results of the consultation undertaken by the responsible authority; or   b) the final LNRS is materially deficient These are the options for objection laid out in Regulation 15.   2) To provide no response and allow the 28 days to expire.   After this point, the responsible authority will be allowed to proceed to publication, so this has the same effect as confirming we are content for the LNRS to be published.   ii.     It is anticipated that Bracknell Forest Council will not wish to object to the Berkshire LNRS proceeding to publication because:   •       The LNRS as reviewed at public consultation included all the elements required under Section 106 of the Environment Act, which are:   a) a statement of biodiversity priorities for the strategy area, and b) a local habitat map ·       The development of the LNRS has been undertaken collaboratively, with the involvement of Bracknell Forest Council and other stakeholders. This has included a public consultation between 17 February and 24 March 2025.   Therefore, it is anticipated that there will not be a reason to object to the broad content, preparation or consultation and review of the LNRS.   iii.    It is not an option to have no LNRS for Berkshire or for Bracknell Forest not to be covered by an LNRS. LNRSs are required by law under the Environment Act 2021. There are 48 LNRS strategy areas which cover the whole of England with no gaps or overlaps. None A wide range of stakeholders across Berkshire including conservation organisations, landowners, specialist wildlife groups and the public.

Date of Decision: July 15, 2025