Decision

That Cabinet:
 
a)          
note and welcome the updates on BNG and the
Council’s Land Assets review;

b)         
approve the four ‘NSDC BNG sites’
identified be progressed for the purpose of generating biodiversity
net gain (BNG) ‘biodiversity units’, to be used firstly
for NSDC’s own planning application BNG obligations; secondly
for NSDC supported projects, and finally (and subject to unit
capacity) for sale of BNG units to other third-party developments
in discharge of their BNG responsibilities.

c)          
approve a revenue budget of up to £25,000 to
allow the implementation of the four NSDC BNG sites funded from the
Change Management Reserve in 2025/26;

d)         
approve a further revenue budget of £45,000 to
allow the implementation of the four NSDC BNG sites in 2026/27
funded from the Change Management Reserve;

e)          
approve delegated authority be given to the Director
- Planning & Growth, in consultation with the Portfolio Holders
for Strategy, Finance & Performance and Climate Change &
Environment, to enter into necessary legal arrangements to secure
the BNG Habitat Banks via the Governments Biodiversity Gain Site
Register, including any appropriate habitat(s) to be created, as
detailed below; and

f)           
agree that a report is brought back to Cabinet prior
to NSDC selling BNG units as detailed in recommendation b) above in
order to set appropriate BNG unit fees.