The Environment Scrutiny Committee met on 1 September 2025 to discuss biodiversity net gain, planning reforms, updates to the Local Plan, and performance management. The committee received updates on each of these topics, and agreed to note them. The committee also reviewed cabinet business and the work programme for the coming year.

Biodiversity Net Gain

The committee received an update from David Thompson, Assistant Director of Planning, on what the council is doing to achieve biodiversity net gain. Biodiversity net gain¹ is an approach to development and land management that aims to leave the natural environment in a measurably better state than it was before. The committee gained an understanding of what the council are doing to achieve biodiversity net gain.

Planning Infrastructure Bill/Planning Reform

David Thompson, Assistant Director of Planning, updated the committee on the changes to planning regulations and how the Planning Infrastructure Bill² will impact the council. The committee sought to understand the impact of the Planning Bill/Reform.

Local Plan Update

David Thompson, Assistant Director of Planning, provided an update on the Local Plan³. The committee heard about the Local Plan and any changes/issues that have arisen.

Performance Management

Kath Drury, Information & Improvement Manager, and Amar Bashir, Improvement Officer, presented the Council Plan Targets Performance Update for Quarter 1. The report detailed progress on the strategies underpinning the council plan objective A great place that cares for the environment for the period ending 30 June 2025. The committee gained insight into the quarterly targets to date, and saw how areas are performing.

Notable achievements mentioned in the report include:

• Progressing the £5.1m Warm Homes Local Grant scheme to improve energy efficiency in private homes.
• Promoting sustainable behaviours through Earth Day and Food Waste Action Week campaigns.
• Having three council-owned car parks shortlisted for rapid EV chargers as part of a county-wide rollout funded by Derbyshire County Council through the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure scheme.
• Action was taken against littering, and the new Community Recycling Officer is actively forging links with schools and community groups.
• Biodiversity was supported through No Mow May, adding over 30 sites, and campaigns like Community Garden Week and Great Big Green Week.

The report noted some challenges:

• The Derbyshire Accelerator business support service commissioned for 2025/26 using UK Shared Prosperity Fund will no longer include specific business de-carbonisation plans, instead focusing on the introduction of new technologies or processes which may include reducing impact on climate change.
• Progress on delivering actions during this period was limited due to capacity challenges - previously unsuccessful in appointing a dedicated Sustainability Officer and the need to prioritise the setup of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund programme for 2025/26.
• Due to extremely dry conditions, the growth of wildflowers and other species was limited this year during No Mow May.

Cabinet Business

The committee received updates on recent and forthcoming Cabinet business from Joe Hayden, Senior Scrutiny Officer, including a digest of cabinet decisions taken since May 2025 and the Forward Plan of Executive Decisions for the period up to 15 July 2025. The committee identified Cabinet Decisions made to date and saw what topics are due to be presented in the future, and determined if any require further follow-up by Scrutiny.

Of note in the Forward Plan of Executive Decisions was the upcoming decision on Simpler Recycling, scheduled for 11 September 2025.

Work Programme

The committee considered the Environment Work Programme 2025-26. The committee agreed a Work Programme going forward for the year.