Purpose

To approve the Local Nature Recovery Strategy
(LNES)

Content

It was
RESOLVED: -
 
1.1         
That, Cabinet accepted Option B to approve the
Final Draft Local Nature Recovery Strategy, without
changes.
 
REASON FOR
DECISION
 
The creation and
approval of a Local Nature Recovery Strategy will demonstrate the
council’s commitment to long-term environmental
sustainability whilst aligning with national goals and
legislation.
 
The work to prepare
the LNRS has been carried out in accordance with the regulations
and statutory guidance, and all key stages of the required process
have been completed to this point.
 
Officers have
contributed collaboratively across Suffolk and Norfolk to formulate
the draft LNRSs. There have been two rounds of public consultation
and two rounds of supporting authorities’ consultation; both
contributing to the final publication.
 
The scope of the
LNRS, and the methodology used in determining its content, are to a
large extent prescribed in the statutory guidance, as well as
through several non-statutory guidance notes produced by Natural
England.
 
The public
consultation has indicated strong support for the LNRS, and the
priorities and measures within it, as well as providing further
useful feedback and information. Much of this has been taken
on-board in the Final Draft LNRS, with the themes of the main
changes set out in paragraph 9.8. Where comments have not been
taken on-board, a clear explanation for not doing so is provided in
the full consultation report.
 
Alternative
Options Considered and Rejected:
 
Option A - the
Final Draft Local Nature Recovery Strategy is not approved.
Considering the council’s current plan and prior commitment
to recognising the biodiversity emergency being faced, the option
to not approve the draft LNRS has not been proposed.
 
Option C - the
Final Draft LNRS is approved, subject to recommended changes. Note
this may cause delay to the LNRS timeline as there is limited time
between the end of this consultation and the proposed publication
date to respond to and address any requested changes.
 
Any Declarations of Interests Declared: None
Any Dispensation Granted: None