Purpose

To approve the
approach to biodiversity net gain unit creation.
 

Decision

1)            
Approve consideration of the use of appropriate council owned land
for:
 
·      
the creation of Biodiversity Net Gain units to be made available
for market to developers, either private or for council associated
developments, to enable fulfilment of the Biodiversity Gain
Condition;

 
·      
The creation of ponds and associated terrestrial habitats to fulfil
Great Crested Newt District Level Licensing requirements and access
funding for those habitats via the Newt Conservation
Partnership;
 
·      
Countryside Stewardship Agreement including a woodland management
plan.
 

2)   
Authorise the undertaking of an internal review of existing council
owned land to assess its capacity and suitability for the purposes
of:
 
·      
the creation of Biodiversity Net Gain units to be made available
for market to developers, either private or for council associated
developments, to enable fulfilment of the Biodiversity Gain
Condition;

 
·      
The creation of ponds and associated terrestrial habitats to fulfil
Great Crested Newt District Level Licensing requirements and make
those habitats available to market via the Newt Conservation
Partnership;
 
·      
Countryside Stewardship Agreement including a woodland management
plan.
 

3)   
Authorise the council to enter into s.106 agreements with third
party landowners for BNG habitat banks and delegates authority:
 
·    
To the Head of Planning and Infrastructure, in consultation with
the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure, to
agree the details of any scheme to be secured by a legal
agreement.

 
·    
To the Head of Law and Governance to enter into legal agreements,
on behalf of the Council, relating to the management, monitoring
and enforcement of BNG Habitat Bank schemes to enable units to be
purchased by applicants to achieve biodiversity gain condition for
planning applications.