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Purpose of the Report:
The purpose of the report is to
confirm that Oldham Council provides its approval for the Greater
Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) (on behalf of the Mayor of
Greater Manchester) to publicly consult on the Draft Greater
Manchester Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS).
 
Reasons for the Recommendations:
Under the Environment Act 2021,
the Mayor of Greater Manchester is required to prepare and adopt a
Local Nature Recovery Strategy for the City Region and seek
agreement from each of the ten districts.
 
The submitted report therefore
is seeking the Cabinet’s approval for the Mayor to consult publicly on the Draft Strategy in
the autumn. This will mean that Oldham Council has given its
support as a supporting authority, which will allow consultation on
the draft LNRS once all ten Greater Manchester districts have
confirmed support or no objections. There are no disadvantages
associated with this option.
 
The Final Strategy will return
to Members for agreement prior to adoption by the Mayor.
 
Options/Alternatives considered:
Option 1: to provide approval for the Greater Manchester
Combined Authority (on behalf of the Mayor of Greater Manchester)
to publicly consult on the Draft Greater Manchester Local Nature
Recovery Strategy (LNRS). This will mean that Oldham Council has
given its support as a supporting authority, which will allow
consultation on the draft LNRS once all ten GM districts have
confirmed support or no objections. There are no disadvantages to
this option.

 
Option 2 – Not to provide approval for the Greater
Manchester Combined Authority (on behalf of the Mayor of Greater
Manchester) to publicly consult on the Draft Greater Manchester
Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS). This will mean that Oldham
Council will need to give reasons in writing to GMCA for the
objection. The advantage of this option is that Oldham Council will
have any formal objections reviewed. The disadvantage of this
option is potentially delaying consultation on LNRS for GM to
either allow for amendments to be made or for the Secretary of
State to intervene and approve consultation.

 
Option 1 is the preferred Option.
 
Decision:
The
Cabinet resolved to provide approval for the Greater Manchester
Combined Authority (on behalf of the Mayor of Greater Manchester)
to publicly consult on the Draft Greater Manchester Local Nature
Recovery Strategy (LNRS).