URL: https://www.fenland.gov.uk/localgov/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1026

Decision Maker: Portfolio Holder for Decarbonisation, Communications, ICT, Refuse Collection, Recycling, Streetsweeping, Street Bins and Dog Bins

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose:

Content: Approve the Council’s formal response to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority’s Draft Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) consultation. The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) is preparing a Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) for the region. This work is part of a national requirement under the Environment Act 2021, which asks every area in England to produce a locally led strategy to help reverse the decline in nature.   The CPCA was appointed by Government as the “responsible authority” for this area. Its job is to lead the process and work with other local councils, partners and landowners to produce a strategy that is locally relevant and deliverable.   Fenland District Council (FDC) is a “supporting authority” in this process, and officers have been working proactively and collaboratively with the CPCA and other partners to shape the strategy and ensure Fenland’s interests are reflected.   Regulation?12 of the Environment (Local Nature Recovery Strategies) (Procedure) Regulations 2023 establishes a statutory requirement to consult on the draft LNRS.   Public consultation on the draft LNRS for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough officially commenced on 18 July 2025, running for an eight-week period and is set to conclude on 11 September 2025.  Prior to the public consultation, there was a formal 28-day consultation period for supporting authorities, which began on 19 June 2025 – FDC formally responded to this consultation indicating that while we support the progression of the draft LNRS to the next stage, we reserved our right to make further, detailed comments on the content of the strategy at the public consultation stage.   FDC have reviewed the document the document and remain broadly supportive of the draft document but feel that there are couple of areas where the document could be improved including:   Re-positioning the documentas a supportive tool that helps shape investment in nature recovery alongside good growth, not in opposition to it   Amending Measure We6A (Fens Reservoir) to make clear that within the reservoir itself opportunities for nature improvements should be sought rather than just the land around the reservoir   Adding a new measure to facilitate improvements adjacent to existing Local Wildlife Sites; and   More minor changes that seek to improve clarity and consistency. The only alternative to amending the draft response would be to refrain from submitting a response to the consultation. However, Fenland District Council has been actively involved throughout the preparation of the document and is generally supportive of its overall direction. It is important that the Council contributes constructive comments and suggestions to help strengthen the LNRS, ensuring not only its successful implementation but also tangible benefits for residents, landowners, and the wider environment. For these reasons, the option of not responding has been discounted.  

Date of Decision: September 18, 2025