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Cabinet were
presented with the Council’s first Stevenage Borough
Biodiversity Duty report as required by the Natural Environment and
Rural Communities Act 2006 (as amended by the Environment Act
2021).
 
The report provided Members with information
on how Biodiversity Net Gain had been monitored within the Borough
as well the actions and strategies in place to enhance the
environment.  Members recognised that
the Council had a long-standing Biodiversity Action Plan, with real
commitment to improving the town through changes such as more
trees, woodland and different habitats.
 
A number of
comments were made by Members including:
 

·        
They welcomed the actions taken at neighbourhood and local level
with the use of the Climate Change Community Fund (CCCF) allocated
to Members;

·        
Members were pleased to note that a number
of projects had been funded through the CCCF in response to
requests from local residents;

·        
The ambition to achieve Biodiversity Net Gain sat alongside the
work of the ambitions within the Stevenage Local Plan;

·        
The commitment to the Biodiversity Duty was essential to ensure the
improvements to the local environment and that contributions to the
future of the planet would benefit the next generation;

·        
The highest count to date had been recorded following the annual
butterfly survey carried out by Green Space Volunteers; and

·        
Members were pleased to see the introduction of the new micro woods
at various locations around the town.
 
Officers confirmed that the next phase of the
Biodiversity reporting would be
strengthening ecological networks and improving habitat
delivery.
 
It was RESOLVED that the information
within the Biodiversity Duty Report, set out in Appendix A be
noted.