URL: https://democracy.middevon.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1385

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose:

Content: The Cabinet had before it and NOTED a report * from the Head of Finance, Property and Climate Resilience presenting the Council’s Biodiversity Duty.   The Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change outlined the contents of the report with particular reference to the following:   The Council’s actions with regard to the Biodiversity Duty and the submission of the report to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) was a requirement of the Statutory Duty and therefore essential for compliance. The report had been a statutory requirement for the Council, covering activity from 2024–25 and setting the framework for the next five years. It outlined how biodiversity responsibilities had been shared across all Council services, linked to the corporate plan and divided into statutory planning functions and wider land and estates management. Over 180 sites had achieved biodiversity gains, four habitat banks had been secured, and the Council had exceeded the minimum 10% biodiversity net gain requirement. It also highlighted community and partnership work and set out aspirations for the coming years, including greater climate engagement, support for local initiatives, improved river management, and actions under the new Devon Local Nature Recovery Strategy.    Discussion took place with regards to:   Sustainable Tiverton was highlighted for its significant contribution, with a request to namecheck the group. It was explained that a Strategic Sustainability Grants report would be reported to the next Cabinet meeting. The two biodiversity habitat banks delivered in the district; how large they were and what they contained and about the two further banks anticipated for 2026. It was explained that the officer would provide this information. Clarification was sought on when local biodiversity net gain standards would come into effect? and if it could exceed statutory requirements? It was explained that this required balancing with planning applications and habitat banks. Whether the policy had introduced additional costs and if any revenue had been generated particularly from the biodiversity habitat banks to help support the projects. It was explained that the existing habitat banks had not belonged to the Council and therefore had not incurred costs or generated income and plans for the future were being developed. A question was asked about alignment with Town and Parish Council expectations for green?space management. It was confirmed that while the Council had greater capacity, any transferred assets would be expected to follow the same policy approach.   Note: * Report previously circulated.  

Date of Decision: March 3, 2026