Issue - meetings

To receive a report on the priority landscapes set out in the Nature Recovery Network for Huntingdonshire.

Executive Councillors: S Taylor and T Sanderson.

The Cabinet has

a)  formally recognised and adopted the Priority Landscapes of Huntingdonshire as set out in the report now submitted;

b)  endorsed the use of the Nature Recovery Network for Huntingdonshire Document as an evidence base for the identification of Priority Natural Landscapes;

c)  endorsed the use of the Nature Recovery Network for Huntingdonshire Document to inform the response to and engagement with the development of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy and subsequently future Planning Policy;

d)  delegated authority to the Assistant Director (Strategic Insight and Delivery) in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Parks and Countryside, Waste and Street Scene to make any minor amendments to the Priority Landscapes of Huntingdonshire policy (subject to a review of the policy to be undertaken within three years);

e)  delegated authority to the Corporate Director (Place) to implement any necessary procedural changes as a result of this endorsement; and

f)  agreed that the report and presentation be also presented to the Local Plans Advisory Group.

Consideration was given to a report by the Parks and Countryside Project Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) seeking formal recognition of the priority landscapes set out in the Nature Recovery Network for Huntingdonshire.

In introducing the report, the Executive Councillor for Parks and Countryside, Waste and Street Scene reported that this was a significant step forward for Huntingdonshire which would guide the Council in enhancing the natural environment as the District continues to grow, without hindering future development. The landscapes which had been identified not only included areas of large ecological interest but included river corridors too. Having acquainted the Cabinet with the legislative requirements under the Environment Act 2021 which introduced the Biodiversity Net Gain and Local Nature Recovery Strategy, the Cabinet noted that this document would help to inform future planning policy whilst also setting out a framework for local action to enhance biodiversity and people’s connection to nature.

In noting that a presentation had been delivered by Mr M Baker from The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire to the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environment, Communities and Partnerships) at their meeting on 3rd October 2024, the Executive Councillor for Climate Transformation and Workforce welcomed the report and commented that the priorities would fit into the Countywide Nature Recovery Strategy process.

The Executive Councillor for Parks and Countryside, Waste and Street Scene drew the Cabinet’s attention to the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environment, Communities and Partnerships) making particular reference to the comments made by Councillors Alban, McAdam and Hassall. Having expressed their support for the proposed additional recommendation made by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environment, Communities & Partnerships) and in seeking clarity on which Executive Portfolio Holder would be responsible for the fourth recommendation within the report, the Cabinet extended their thanks to Mr M Baker from The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire and to Officers for their hard work and efforts in delivering the report.

In welcoming the approach made by Overview and Scrutiny to include an additional recommendation within the report the Executive Leader drew attention to the Local Government Association Corporate Peer Challenge report which would be presented to Council the following evening. Consideration would be given to the reporting and meeting cycle, in particular, the pre-scrutiny process.

Whereupon, it was duly moved and seconded that the Cabinet

RESOLVED

a)  to formally recognise and adopt the Priority Landscapes of Huntingdonshire as set out in the report now submitted;

b)  to endorse the use of the Nature Recovery Network for Huntingdonshire Document as an evidence base for the identification of Priority Natural Landscapes;

c)  to endorse the use of the Nature Recovery Network for Huntingdonshire Document to inform the response to and engagement with the development of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy and subsequently future Planning Policy;

d)  to delegate authority to the Assistant Director (Strategic Insights and Delivery) in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Parks and Countryside, Waste and Street Scene to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43

The Panel is invited to comment on the Huntingdonshire Priority Natural Landscapes report.

Executive Councillors: S Taylor and T Sanderson

By means of a report and presentation by the Parks and Countryside Project Manager (copies of which were appended in the Minute Book), the Huntingdonshire Priority Natural Landscapes Report was presented to the Panel.

The Panel heard that, following questions from Councillor Alban, the project was an evidence based piece of work and whilst discussions had been held with local landowners during the evidence gathering process, this had not been opened to public consultation at this stage. The Panel were also advised that the study was not focussed on access to the identified spaces, many of the spaces had public rights of way or assumed access and it was noted that during adverse weather some rights of way may be closed in order to protect the habitats and environment of the location.

It was clarified to the Panel, in response to an enquiry from Councillor Shaw that there were nine identified locations within the document and that the tenth location were the river corridors.  

Following a question from Councillor Hassall, the Panel heard that the report had not been presented to the Local Plan Advisory Group (LPAG). The Panel were advised that the report would be further presented to Cabinet and to Council during the October cycle of meetings. The Panel were reassured that the priority landscapes identified were where the Council wanted to enhance and not inhibit development and would be part of an evidence base being pushed into the Local Nature Recovery Strategy which is a County wide piece of work that will be a planning document with formal consultation built in. This piece of work would be developed by Cambridgeshire County Council who will be undertaking the work on behalf of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority. This Strategy will help to identify the right locations for new developments. It was noted that the work so far is a technical study, which will form an evidence base which, once developed and adopted, could be used by Planning to make informed decisions. This work is part of a framework of evidence and will be used as supporting evidence once adopted. Councillor Hassall argued that this study would be of great benefit to LPAG in developing the Local Plan as an evidence based piece of work. It would be helpful for the Group to know where the biodiversity priority areas are and would be fantastic to get this overlay to sit alongside the Local Plan whilst that is in development to ensure there are no conflicts in identified areas.

Councillor Hassall proposed to add an additional recommendation to the Cabinet report, this recommendation was seconded by Councillor Mokbul and the Panel voted unanimously in favour of forwarding the proposed recommendation to the Cabinet.

6)   to agree that the report and presentation be also presented to the Local Plan Advisory Group.

In response to a question from Councillor McAdam, it was clarified to the Panel that whilst the team did not have the knowledge of how many farmers were currently  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27