Issue - meetings

Report of the Strategic Director of Communities
Presented by the Community and Climate Change Portfolio Holder

The Community and Climate Change Portfolio Holder presented the report.

Comments from Community Scrutiny Committee on the report were considered and acknowledged in turn. C1 was supported by the Community and Climate Change Portfolio Holder. C2 and C4 were noted. In response to C3, Officers suggested an additional recommendation to provide clarity around the next reporting period for the Biodiversity Duty report which was supported by members.

In line with the Constitution, the Chair of the Council agreed that the right of call-in be waivered due to call in prejudicing the ability of the Council to publish its Biodiversity Duty Report by the statutory deadline of 25 March 2026. The Chair of the Council had considered the timetable for confirmation and agreed that the matter before Cabinet was urgent for that reason.

It was moved by Councillor M Wyatt, seconded by Councillor T Gillard and

RECOMMENDED THAT:

1) Comments and recommendations made by the Corporate Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 19 March 2026 were considered.

2) The Biodiversity Duty report was approved.

3) Authority was delegated to the Strategic Director of Housing and Communities to make any minor amendments to the report prior to final submission.

4) The next reporting period for the next Biodiversity Duty report to be from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2030 was agreed.

Reason for decision: To approve the Council’s Biodiversity Duty Report as required by the Constitution.