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That the
Cabinet:-
 

1)    
notes the contents of this report which, amongst other things,
explains the Council’s obligations around Biodiversity Net
Gain (BNG), the role of Habitat Banks and the potential
consideration of Council-owned land for BNG purposes; 

 

2)    
agrees that proposed ‘Policy on Biodiversity Net Gain
(BNG)’ (attached as Appendix 1 to the Portfolio
Holder’s report (A.1)) is adopted as the Council’s
interim corporate position pending the outcome of the Local Plan
review, for the purposes of dealing with matters relating to
BNG;

 

3)    
refers the aforementioned policy to the Planning Policy and Local
Plan Committee for its consideration for inclusion in the Tendring
District Local Plan as part of its current review;

 

4)    
invites the Planning Committee, at its earliest convenience, to
consider and determine how it will exercise its power in respect of
Council decisions on entering into legal agreements with landowners
under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning for the purposes
of setting up Habitat Banks, guided by the aforementioned policy
and the advice of Officers – including the extent to which
the Committee deems it appropriate for such decision-making powers
to be delegated to Officers; and any arrangements for public
consultation on specific proposals; and

 

5)    
notes that the Portfolio Holder
responsible for Housing and Planning in liaison with Officers will,
in due course, consider and publish details of the fees to be
charged to developers and landowners to cover the Council’s
costs in respect of monitoring BNG in line with its statutory
obligations.