Preparation and establishment of Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) was a mandatory requirement under the Environment Act 2021.  East Sussex County Council (ESCC) was the ‘Responsible Authority’ and held the legal duty to produce the LNRS across East Sussex including Brighton and Hove.  Rother District Council was classed as a ‘Supporting Authority’ along with the other local authorities across the county.  Both East and West Sussex County Councils were jointly working on the preparation of their LNRSs and had established a Sussex-wide Supporting Authorities Group (SAG) which met monthly.  The Council’s Planning Policy Manager was a member of SAG, which also included representatives from all the other local authorities, relevant stakeholders, and environmental organisations.

The content of the LNRS was not clearly defined, however it must include biodiversity priorities, local habitat map(s) identifying conservation sites, nature reserves and other areas which were or could become of particular importance to biodiversity. 

Due to tight timescales, it was recommended that delegated authority be granted to the Director – Place and Climate Change, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning to submit responses to ESCC during the preparation of the LNRS.  It was anticipated that the Council would receive the pre-consultation draft of the LNRS in February 2025, the consultation period would commence in February/March 2025 and the final draft in Summer 2025.  Members noted that these dates could be subject to change because of the ESCC elections scheduled to be held in May 2025.

Cabinet was supportive of the LNRS, recognising that it would sit at the heart of the Council’s Local Plan, would help to address the nature-depleted landscape across the country and approved the delegation as requested to ensure timely production of the strategy.

RESOLVED: That the Director – Place and Climate Change, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning be granted delegated authority to submit responses to East Sussex County Council at key stages in the preparation of the East Sussex and Brighton & Hove Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

(When it first became apparent, Councillor Field declared a personal interest in this matter as a Member of East Sussex County Council and in accordance with the Code of Conduct remained in the room during the consideration thereof).