Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Strategic Director for Place.

Agreed:

RECOMMENDED that Council approves the adoption of the South East Devon Wildlife Joint Habitats Sites Mitigation Strategy 2025 – 2030 attached at Appendix A.

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

Particular reference was made to:

• this being a successful partnership between Exeter City Council, East Devon District Council, and Teignbridge District Council to protect the Exe Estuary, East Devon Pebblebed Heaths, and Dawlish Warren;
• the new strategy would cover the period from 2025 to 2030 and would introduce a range of measures to protect these areas;
• it would be funded through CIL due to the direct impact from housing developments on these environments; and
• the report had been produced jointly by officers across the three districts and the same report had been presented to all three districts.

During discussion, Executive Members raised the following points and questions:

• this strategy would enable key developments to progress and would assist ECC with meeting housing targets;
• can the Director provide an understanding of how ECC interests would be protected when creating and managing any new Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspaces (SANGs), as well as planning and delivering strategic access management and monitoring projects such as the potential new SANG in Whipton/ Beacon Heath area and how that collaboration would work?
• this partnership had been held up by Natural England as an exemplar;
• the two partner councils had already passed this strategy; and
• where CIL wasn’t chargeable, a contribution could be made through section 106.

In response to questions raised, the Strategic Director for Place advised that:

• SANGs were used to deflect people away from the important greenspaces by providing an alternative option for recreational purposes;
• a joint approach had to be taken due to the strategic nature;
• there was a joint committee called Habit Mitigation Executive Committee and Councillor Williams was our representative on it; and
• work was being done to look at Valley Parks for SANGs but also biodiversity net gain.  

The Leader moved the recommendation and Councillor Wright seconded, were voted upon and CARRIED unanimously.

Agreed:

RECOMMENDED that Council approves the adoption of the Southeast Devon Wildlife Joint Habitats Sites Mitigation Strategy 2025 – 2030 attached at Appendix A.