Purpose

The report addresses
requirements of the Environment Act 2021 relating to the
council’s LNRS Supporting Authority role and seeks delegated
authority to approve and respond on any pre-consultation draft of a
Local Nature Recovery Strategy within 28 days, as required, and to
consider the pre-publication draft strategy, also within 28
days.

Content

(Key
decision):
 
(1) To note and welcome the
Council’s role as a Supporting Authority in relation to Local
Nature Recovery Strategies, under The Environment (Local Nature
Recovery Strategies) (Procedure) Regulations 2023;
 
(2) To delegate authority to
the Chief Executive, in consultation with the relevant Lead member,
to:
 
a)
Approve and submit a response to the Responsible Authority, ESCC,
on any pre-consultation draft of a Local Nature Recovery Strategy
within 28 days as required by the Council’s role as a
Supporting Authority under The Environment (Local Nature Recovery
Strategies) (Procedure) Regulations 2023;
 
b)
Consider the pre-publication draft of any Local Nature Recovery
Strategy and, if the Chief Executive considers that the draft
strategy cannot be justified based on the results of the
consultation or that it is materially deficient, to submit a
publication advisory notice to the Responsible Authority within 28
days, as set out in regulation 15 of The Environment (Local Nature
Recovery Strategies) (Procedure) Regulations 2023.