URL: https://committeeadmin.lancaster.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1620

Decision Maker:

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose:

Content: (Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Riches)   Cabinet received a report from the Chief Officer Planning and Climate Change to approve the publication of the Biodiversity Duty Report required in accordance with the Environment Act 2021, to report on how public authorities are acting to conserve and enhance biodiversity in the period up to 1 January 2026.   The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:   The Council is legally obliged to publish the Biodiversity Duty Report. Whilst Cabinet may consider the inclusion of any amendments or additions to the report, there is no other option other than report publication.   The preferred officer option therefore is the publication of the Biodiversity Duty Report and its appendices.   Councillor Riches proposed, seconded by Councillor Peter Jackson:-   “That the recommendation, as set out in the report, be approved.”   Councillors then voted:-   Resolved unanimously:   That Cabinet agrees to publish the Biodiversity Duty Report.     Officer responsible for effecting the decision:   Chief Officer Planning and Climate Change   Reasons for making the decision:   The Council’s Biodiversity Action Plan (Fulfilling the Biodiversity Duty Considerations) as approved by Cabinet in 2024 is of primary relevance. The Report shows how the Council is making progress on its Biodiversity Action Plan.   The future actions outlined in this report are in accordance with the key objective of increasing biodiversity in the Council Plan. ?The actions reported and planned also support the implementation of policies in the adopted Local Plan; particularly Policy DM44 which relates to the protection and enhancement of biodiversity. ?   The provision of quantitative data on biodiversity net gain is in compliance with the requirements of DEFRA. It also supports the action in the Biodiversity Action Plan approved by Cabinet in 2024, which was Action 1.3 regarding the development of an internal monitoring system to support the delivery of BNG across the district,?ensuring delivery and condition can be monitored over 30 years.   The report is therefore aligned to both formal Policy Framework documents and the Biodiversity Action Plan.   The publication of the report will satisfy the legal obligations as required by DEFRA. More importantly, it will demonstrate how the Council is making progress in implementing its Biodiversity Action Plan and it provides a list of future projects that any new Council (i.e. following Local Government Reorganisation) should aim to deliver.

Date of Decision: April 7, 2026