Issue - meetings

To receive a report setting out the design, delivery and overall process that officers will use to deliver, launch and implement the Habitat Banking Programme in Phase 1 and Phase 2.

The Cabinet has

(a)  noted the update on the Bio4All programme and the partnership work between the Council and CPCA for Phase 1, and how this can be taken forward in an approach for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG);

(b)  acknowledged the environmental, social and economic benefits of Habitat Banking across Huntingdonshire, alignment with existing policies/strategies, and the role of BNG and Habitat Banking in relation to development delivery within the District;

(c)  approved the principle of and approach outlined to phased establishment of Habitat Banks on suitable Council owned land to generate Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) units;

(d)  noted the inclusion of a £220,000 capital investment bid and associated income impact within the 2026-2027 MTFS to deliver Phase 1 & 2;

(e)  approved the approach, governance, process, and timeline for full implementation across the district by April 2026 and embedding BNG delivery and management as part of business-as-usual activity; and

(f)  ensured appropriate delegations are in place to enable efficient and effective implementation, delivery of actions, and monitoring pertaining to BNG units as part of business as usual (BAU) and maximise the potential social, environmental and economic benefits of BNG on Council owned land.

A report by the Biodiversity for All Project Manager was submitted (a copy of which is appended to the Minute Book) setting out the design, delivery and overall process that officers would use to deliver, launch and implement the Habitat Banking Programme in Phase 1 and Phase 2. The Executive Councillor for Parks and Countryside, Waste and Street Scene, Councillor Kerr introduced the report, highlighting that the Council would be one of the first in the country to undertake this Programme, giving the Council a significant advantage in being able to offer something for which there was a strong and growing demand.

The Cabinet were content with the report and noted that it helped ensure that Biodiversity Net Gain happened for planning applications approved in Huntingdonshire. Furthermore, it was important that Councils were entrusted with undertaking such Programmes. Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

that

(a)  the Bio4All programme and the partnership work between the Council and CPCA for Phase 1 and how this can be taken forward in an approach for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), be noted;

(b)  the environmental, social and economic benefits of Habitat Banking across Huntingdonshire, alignment with existing policies/strategies, and the role of BNG and Habitat Banking in relation to development delivery within the District, be noted;

(c)  the principle of and approach outlined to phased establishment of Habitat Banks on suitable Council owned land to generate (BNG) units, be approved;

(d)  the inclusion of a £220,000 capital investment bid and associated income impact within the 2026-2027 MTFS to deliver Phase 1 & 2, be noted;

(e)  the approach, governance, process, and timeline for full implementation across the district by April 2026 and embedding BNG delivery and management as part of business-as-usual activity, be approved; and

(f)  it be noted that the appropriate delegations are in place to enable efficient and effective implementation, delivery of actions, and monitoring pertaining to BNG units as part of business as usual (BAU), and maximise the potential social, environmental and economic benefits of BNG on Council owned land