Issue - meetings
Biodiversity Action Plan for South Kesteven
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Meeting: 10/03/2026 - Cabinet (Item 121)
121 Biodiversity Action Plan for South Kesteven 
PDF 261 KB
The South Kesteven Biodiversity Action Plan
has been developed to report on the actions South Kesteven District
Council will take to conserve and enhance biodiversity across the
district as part of the Council's Biodiversity Duty.
Additional documents:
- Appendix A for Biodiversity Action Plan for South Kesteven, item 121
PDF 5 MB
- Appendix B for Biodiversity Action Plan for South Kesteven, item 121
PDF 2 MB
- Webcast for Biodiversity Action Plan for South Kesteven
Decision:
Decision
That Cabinet:
1. Note the biodiversity duty for all public authorities and requirements to report on actions and progress.
2. Approve the adoption of the South Kesteven Biodiversity Action Plan.
3. Delegate to the Director of Housing and Projects, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste, the approval of minor amendments to the South Kesteven Biodiversity Action Plan as new Government guidance emerges.
Reasons for the decision
The Environment Act 2021 has strengthened the Biodiversity Duty of local authorities and as a result, it has become the legal obligation of South Kesteven District Council as a both a public authority and local planning authority to develop and implement a Biodiversity Action Plan.
Other options considered and rejected
It was a statutory requirement under the Environment Act 2021 that all local authorities (excluding parish councils) and local planning authorities must publish a biodiversity report. Therefore, the option to ‘do nothing’ has been discounted.
Minutes:
Purpose of report
The South Kesteven Biodiversity Action Plan had been developed in response to the Biodiversity Duty for all public authorities (excluding parish councils). The new Plan would report on the actions South Kesteven District Council would take to conserve and enhance biodiversity across the district as well as deliver Biodiversity Net Gain as the Local Planning Authority.
Decision
That Cabinet:
1. Notes the Biodiversity Duty for all public authorities and requirements to report on actions and progress.
2. Approves the adoption of the South Kesteven Biodiversity Action Plan.
3. Delegates to the Director of Housing and Projects, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste, the approval of minor amendments to the South Kesteven Biodiversity Action Plan as new Government guidance emerges.
Other options considered
It was a statutory requirement under the Environment Act 2021 that all local authorities (excluding parish councils) and local planning authorities must publish a biodiversity report. Therefore, the option to ‘do nothing’ has been discounted.
Reasons for the decision
The Environment Act 2021 has strengthened the Biodiversity Duty of local authorities and as a result, it has become the legal obligation of South Kesteven District Council as a both a public authority and local planning authority to develop and implement a Biodiversity Action Plan.
Big steps had been taken to improve South Kesteven’s biodiversity, including (but not limited to), the Witham Slea Blue Green Corridor, the Green Flag status of the three parks in Grantham, and the ‘Make Space for Nature’ project. The Council had partnered with the Woodland Trust for future projects.
The Action Plan had been considered by Environment OSC, who recommended it forward to Cabinet, with feedback (which had been included within the final report).