Agenda item

Report of David Arnold, Head of Planning and Environment, Nottinghamshire County Council

David Arnold, Head of Planning and Environment, Nottinghamshire County Council, introduced the report on development of the Nottinghamshire & Nottingham Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LRNS). This work is led by Nottinghamshire County Council but must involve the Supporting Authorities in its development. For Nottinghamshire, these are the City Council, the 7 District and Borough Councils and Natural England. It is proposed to report to the Economic Prosperity Committee at key milestones to provide an appropriate level of political oversight to monitor progress.

Catherine Mayhew, LRNS Co-ordinator, delivered a presentation to the Committee and highlighted the following information:

(a)  the LRNS is a new statutory system of spatial strategies for nature’s recovery. Each county area of the UK musts prepare an LRNS in a locally-led, collaborative and transparent way, mapping the most valuable existing areas for nature and agreeing priorities for nature’s recovery;

(b)  existing areas for nature have been identified and mapped, with the map being available on the county council’s website. This includes national nature reserves, local wildlife sites, ancient trees and sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs);

(c)  governance is provided through an advisory group and 5 working groups on different topics. A strategic oversight group provides strategic oversight, and political oversight will be provided by this Committee;

(d)  public and stakeholder engagement is happening currently, with a draft LRNS due to be approved by Nottinghamshire’s Cabinet in September 2024 prior to formal public consultation. Publication is expected by the end of March 2025.

Resolved to

(1)  endorse the role of the Economic Prosperity Committee as the Political Oversight Group to monitor the development of the LNRS prepared by the County Council on behalf of the City Council and the District and Borough Councils;

(2)  note the statutory duties placed on the County Council as the Responsible Authority in preparing the LNRS and the role of the Supporting Authorities in shaping the LNRS;

(3)  note progress so far and the key milestones that need to be achieved over the next 10 months, including the proposed timetable for decisions that need to be taken by the County Council, City Council and the Nottinghamshire District and Borough Councils in endorsing the LNRS.

Reasons for decisions:

·  Oversight of the preparation of the LNRS is required, to ensure that there is confidence in the robustness of the process at the most senior level within the Supporting Authorities.

·  The Responsible Authority and Supporting Authorities have roles that are prescribed in the legislation, regulations and guidance.

·  The Responsible Authority and Supporting Authorities need to be aware of the decision-making processes and deadlines that will need to be met, if we are to meet DEFRA’s preferred timeframe of publication at end of March 2025.

Other options considered:

·  The County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment gave approval on 11 July 2022 for the County Council to act as Responsible Authority for the development of a Local Nature Recovery Strategy covering Nottinghamshire and Nottingham. The option for the County Council not to accept the appointment as Responsible Authority was discounted at that time, given the county-wide nature of the LNRS and the need for significant input from the County Council.

·  The provision of political oversight of the LNRS was discussed following a presentation to a meeting of the N2 Environmental Strategy Working Group, comprising senior officers from the Supporting Authorities. It was recommended that the Economic Prosperity Committee could take on the role of the Political Oversight Group and receive reports on progress with the LNRS, rather than setting up a separate group to undertake this role.