The Natural Environment Board was scheduled to discuss risk management, climate action, and the progress of the Environment Department's business plan. Also on the agenda was an update on fundraising workstreams for the Natural Environment Charity Review (NECR).

Here's a breakdown of the topics that were expected to be covered:

Natural Environment Charity Review

The Board was scheduled to receive an update on the fundraising workstreams of the Natural Environment Charity Review (NECR). A key goal of the NECR is to enable better income generation and fundraising across the eight Natural Environment Charities¹, to support the delivery of their objectives.

In April 2025, fundraising consultants, The Transform Partnership, were engaged to provide advice on fundraising team development and strategy, analyse fundraising potential across all sites, identify viable income streams and estimate financial targets. They were also tasked with defining the structure, roles, salaries and responsibilities for a permanent fundraising team within the Natural Environment Division, and creating a headline income generation plan across key income streams for each Charity to support sustainable, long-term fundraising operations beyond the consultancy period. The consultants are expected to present their report to all Members in a recorded session by the end of October 2025.

The Board was also scheduled to discuss Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). Recent changes to national planning regulations require developers to deliver BNG as part of their development in certain circumstances. BNG is a mechanism for funding the creation and improvement of natural habitats and aims to ensure that development has a measurably positive impact ('net gain') on biodiversity, compared to what was there before development. Where enhancements cannot be achieved on site, or nearby, there is the possibility of developers purchasing units from land managers to provide such improvements on their behalf. Mott MacDonald was engaged to provide analysis for BNG potential across all NE Charity and complementary land parcels, and that survey was completed in May 2025. The Mott MacDonald team were expected to present their findings to all interested Members in a recorded session on the background and potential for BNG income generation at NE sites.

Risk Management Update

The Board was scheduled to receive a report from Katie Stewart, Executive Director Environment, providing an update on risk management procedures within the Environment Department. The report stated that the Executive Director Environment assures the Natural Environment Board that all risks held by the Natural Environment Division and the City Operations Division continue to be managed in compliance with the Corporate Risk Management Framework, and, in the case of the Natural Environment charities, the Charities Act 2011².

The Natural Environment Director holds a Cross-Divisional Risk Register containing risks which are common to most or all Natural Environment charities. The register contains five RED risks, six AMBER risks and one GREEN risk. The highest risk on the Cross-Divisional register remains 'Decline in condition of assets'. The risk is currently scored at Red 32 (likely to occur, with a serious impact) due to ongoing concerns about inadequate repair and maintenance of operational property across all Natural Environment sites.

The City Gardens Risk Register contains seven risks (five AMBER, and one GREEN) which are owned and managed by the City Gardens Manager and his Management Team. The highest four risks on the register each have a score of Amber 12 (possible likelihood; major impact). Of these risks, 'Tree and plant diseases and other pests' has been accepted at its current score and is well controlled to maintain it at that level.

Climate Action Strategy Update

The Committee was scheduled to receive a presentation about the Climate Action Strategy. According to the presentation, City Corporation green spaces sequester 16,230 tCO2e/year. The Carbon Removals programme aims to protect existing sequestration from climate change, create 210 tCO2e additional sequestration by 2027 and increase biodiversity.

The presentation stated that high footfall and a changing climate leads to soil compaction and poor structure, severely limiting microbial biodiversity. These conditions restrict oxygen flow, water infiltration, and root penetration. Improving soil structure and alleviating compaction, through excluding footfall and aerating soil, are key to fostering healthy microbe biodiversity and accumulating soil organic carbon. To further enhance microbial diversity, amendments are being added, including compost teas, zeolite and biochar³.

Environment Department Business Plan

The Board was scheduled to receive a report providing an update on progress made by the Natural Environment Division and the City Gardens Team towards delivery of the Environment Department's high-level Business Plan 2024/25. The report summarises the progress that has been made against major workstreams and performance measures during the last year. Overall, the majority of workstreams have remained on track and all have supported the delivery of the Corporate Plan outcomes and other cross-cutting strategies and programmes.

The high-level Business Plan set out the Natural Environment Division and City Gardens priority workstreams for 2024/25. For the Natural Environment Division, the workstreams aligned with the Natural Environment Strategies. Throughout the year, Members were kept informed of the progress of specific workstreams by way of regular Assistant Director update reports and/or separate detailed reports.