Decision Maker:

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: July 9, 2025

Purpose:

Content: 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 Council Constitution, do hereby approve:   THAT I am content for the Local Nature Recovery Strategy to be published and authorise the Executive Director of Place to confirm the same in writing to the GMCA and the Mayor as the responsible body for the GM Local Nature Recovery Strategy.   The Reasons are: In response to the Biodiversity Emergency and in line with the council’s statutory duties under the Environment Act.   Options considered and rejected were: The city council could object to the Local Nature Recovery Strategy and press for an amended strategy. However, officers from the city council have worked closely with Greater Manchester Combined Authority and partners in the drafting of the strategy. Within the context of the guidance set for these strategies, it is believed that the Local Nature Recovery Strategy presents a good representation of the priorities for nature recovery in Salford.   Assessment of Risk: Low. The Local Nature Recovery Strategy does not form part of the development plan, though it is a document which the city council will need to have regard to in carrying out its various functions.   The source of funding is: N/A   Legal Advice obtained: Provided by Justin Hobson, Principal Lawyer – Shared Legal Service – 2 June 2025 Salford City Council (the Council) (as a supporting authority) has collaborated with the Mayor/GMCA ( the responsible authority), along with the other supporting authorities on the production of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS)   In this final stage of the process, the Mayor/GMCA has provided the Council, as one of the supporting authorities, with the final version of the LNRS (as required by Regulation 13 of the Environment (Local Nature Recovery Strategies) (Procedure) Regulations 2023).    The Council is now asked to confirm that it is content for the Final LNRS to be published.  If the Council is content for the local nature recovery strategy to be published, it can confirm this in writing to the Mayor/GMCA (Regulation 18(3)).   Should the Council not give any indication to the Mayor/GMCA within a period of 28 days, beginning with the date on which it was provided with a copy of the Final LNRS under Regulation 13, the Council is essentially deemed to have consented to the LNRS’s publication.   If the Council considers that either:  i) part of a final LNRS cannot be justified based on the results of the consultation undertaken by the responsible authority under Regulation 12; or II) the final LNRS is materially deficient, it may, before the expiry of 28 days from the date on which it received the copy of the final local nature recovery strategy, give a publication advisory notice to the Mayor/GMCA.  The effect of the notice is to prevent the responsible authority from publishing the LNRS until the issues raised in the notice are resolved.   However, if having sought to resolve matters, the Council still did not agree to the publication of the LNRS, the responsible authority may write to the Secretary of State requesting permission to publish the final LNRS, upon which and subject to further consultation with the other supporting authorities, either permit the publication of the final LNRS; or permit publication subject to such conditions as the Secretary of State considers appropriate (Regulation 16).   Financial Advice obtained: Provided by Martin Anglesey, Accountant martin.anglesey@salford.gov.uk Date: 29 May 2025 It is anticipated that submitting approval for the Greater Manchester Local Nature Recovery Strategy to be published will not incur direct financial implications to Salford City Council. In terms of longer term nature recovery funding across GMCA as a whole, this is more far reaching. A combination of agricultural environment scheme / grant funding and accessing private finance will be necessary. Business models shall be developed to facilitate other sources of funding - initiatives such as Biodiversity Net Gain. Furthermore, continued development and implementation of local policies that incentivise funding into the natural environment to be maintained. Project Innovate is not applicable due to the unique nature of the Strategy.   Procurement Advice obtained: N/A   HR Advice obtained: N/A   Climate Change Advice obtained: Habitats and species are at risk from changes in the climate and it is important that our natural areas are well managed in order to be resilient to future changes. Natural areas can play an important role in helping the city to be more resilient to climate change by providing flood storage and reducing surface water run-off from extreme rainfall events. Green spaces also provide a cooling effect to counter the impact of extreme heat.   The following documents have been used to assist the decision process: Nature for All: A Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Greater Manchester   Contact Officer:    Fiona Fryer                       fiona.fryer@salford.gov.uk                               James Shuttleworth           james.shuttleworth@salford.gov.uk   This decision is not subject to consideration by another Lead Member.   The appropriate scrutiny panel to call-in the decision is the Growth and Prosperity Scrutiny Panel.    Signed: Councillor Mike McCusker                   Dated: 9th July 2025 Lead Member for Planning, Transport & Sustainable Development     This decision was published on 10th July 2025.   This decision will come into force at 4.00 p.m. on 17th July 2025, unless it is called-in in accordance with the decision-making process rules.