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DECISION TAKEN:
RESOLVED:
Cabinet agreed to:
a)    
Acknowledge the Council’s responsibility to comply with the
biodiversity duty as set out in the Natural Environment and Rural
Communities Act 2006 (as amended by the Environment Act 2021);
and
b)    
Note the contents of the first consideration as set out in the
covering statement in Appendix A, and the WHBC Biodiversity Duty
Action Template in Appendix B.
 
Reason for the decision
Local authorities that operate
in England must consider what they can do to conserve and enhance
biodiversity. This is the strengthened ‘biodiversity
duty’ introduced by the Environment Act 2021.  Local authorities must complete their first
consideration of what action to take for biodiversity by 1 January
2024 and agree policies and objectives as soon as possible after
that.