The Rother Council Climate Change Steering Group is scheduled to meet on Thursday 25 September 2025. The agenda includes discussion of the Climate Action Plan, a potential nature emergency declaration, and various initiatives related to biodiversity and tree planting. The meeting will also cover updates on Rother District Council assets.

Climate Action Plan Progress

The Climate Change Steering Group is scheduled to discuss the Climate Action Plan, focusing on biodiversity and land use. According to the Climate Action Plan Progress - Biodiversity and Land Use - September 2025 document, the discussion will cover several key areas:

• Biodiversity Net Gain: The report pack states that the council is exploring ways to ensure that developments lead to a net positive impact on biodiversity¹. > Biodiversity net gain (BNG) is an approach to development and land management that aims to leave the natural environment in a measurably better state than it was beforehand. This can be achieved through various measures, such as creating new habitats, enhancing existing ones, or improving ecological connectivity.
• Land Use: The report pack indicates that the council is considering how land can be managed to support both climate change mitigation and biodiversity.
• Action Plan Progress: The report pack includes an update on the progress of specific actions outlined in the Climate Action Plan. The report pack states that the steering group will review what has been achieved, what is in progress, and what the next steps are.

Nature Emergency Declaration

The steering group is scheduled to discuss the possibility of declaring a nature emergency. The report pack does not elaborate on the specific reasons for considering this declaration, but it generally signifies a heightened awareness of biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation, and a commitment to taking urgent action.

Bexhill Tree Planting Strategy and Trees for Cities Bexhill Survey

The agenda includes a verbal update on the Bexhill Tree Planting Strategy and the Trees for Cities Bexhill Survey. The report pack does not contain further details about either of these topics. Trees for Cities is a charity that works to improve lives by planting trees in cities.

Biodiversity Net Gain for Rother District Council Assets

The steering group is scheduled to receive a verbal update on biodiversity net gain for Rother District Council assets. The report pack does not contain further details about this topic.

Other Items

The agenda also includes:

• Apologies for absence.
• Disclosure of interests and dispensations.
• Minutes of the last meeting on 31 July 2025.
• Any other business.
• Date of the next meeting, scheduled for Thursday 30 October 2025.