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Salford City Council
– Record of Decision
 
I, Councillor Mike McCusker, Lead Member for Planning, Transport and Sustainable
Development, in exercise of the powers contained within the City
Council Constitution, do hereby
–
 
Approve the publication of Salford’s Biodiversity Duty
Report by the statutory deadline of 26th March
2026.
 
The Reasons are:
that the report
(and its publication) forms part of Salford City Council’s
statutory biodiversity duty, elaborating on the council’s
policies, objectives and actions it has taken, is taking and
planning to take to improve biodiversity in the area, whilst
concurrently delivering on the actions specified in Salford’s
biodiversity emergency declaration.
 
Options considered and
rejected were:
N/A – as publication of the report constitutes
a statutory obligation, no alternative options were
considered.
 
Assessment of Risk: Low.
The publication of the Biodiversity Duty Report is a statutory
obligation under the Environment Act 2021; hence, failure to
publish the report, within the timeframe specified, would be in
contravention of the act.
 
The source of funding
is: N/A.
 
Legal Advice
obtained:Elise Petit-Gould, Senior Lawyer -
17/02/2026
The Biodiversity Duty Report
appears to meet the council’s reporting obligations under the
Environment Act 2021 and aligns with the structure and expectations
set out in national guidance. It is also consistent with the
council’s existing biodiversity policies.
The statutory deadline for
publication is 26 March 2026. Provided the final data
(particularly biodiversity net gain metrics and gain plans) is
verified, publication by this date will demonstrate compliance with
the duty and carries low legal risk.
Failure to publish on time
would place the council in breach of a statutory duty and increase
the risk of challenge. Likewise, any significant inaccuracies in
the published data may create legal or reputational issues and
could require correction.
This advice relates only to the
statutory reporting requirement. Any projects referenced in the
Report remain subject to separate legal and planning
considerations.
 
Financial Advice
obtained:Ethan
Bestwick, Accountant – 12/02/2026
N/A – there are no direct
financial implications associated with the publication of the
Biodiversity Duty Report.
 
Procurement Advice
obtained: N/A.
 
HR Advice
obtained: N/A.
 
Climate Change advice
obtained: The policies and actions
highlighted in the report will likely have positive implications
for climate-change mitigation and adaptation in Salford. It is well
established that biodiversity and climate are profoundly
interconnected. Action regarding biodiversity-improvement can
involve creating/enhancing habitats that also support increased
carbon dioxide capture and storage, and resilience to weather
extremes, which are projected to increase in frequency and
intensity with climate change. For example, establishing /
improving green spaces that incorporate trees, woodland and diverse
vegetation, can help reduce the impacts of heatwaves through
localised shading and cooling, and also contribute to flood risk
management by slowing surface water run-off and increasing water
infiltration. As such, biodiversity-enhancement activities can
underpin nature-based solutions that support climate-change
mitigation and adaptation, and Salford’s associated
objectives. The work also aligns with the Greater Manchester 5-Year
Environment Plan.
 
The
following documents have been used to assist the decision
process:
Lead Member Report.
 
Contact Officer: Jo Regan / Bétina Frinault                
jo.regan@salford.gov.uk
 
 
This decision is subject to
consideration for briefing purposes by the Lead Member for
Neighbourhoods, Environment and Community Safety. The Lead Member
is supportive of the decision.
 
The appropriate scrutiny panel
to call-in the decision is the Growth & Prosperity Scrutiny
Panel.
 

 
Signed: Councillor McCusker                
Dated: 11th March 2026
Lead
Member for Planning, Transport and Sustainable
Development
 

 
This decision was published on 13th March 2026.
 
This decision will come into force at
4.00 p.m. on 20th March 2026, unless it is called-in in accordance with the
decision-making process rules.