The Biodiversity Net Gain Coordinator introduced the report of the Director of Neighbourhood Services which provided the first annual report on the Council’s progress in the delivery of the strategy and identified key priorities for 2025. The overarching objectives of the strategy were to actively enhance and protect biodiversity on Wirral, through strategic collaboration with partners and the local community, levering local expertise and knowledge sharing.

Members thanked officers for their work and referenced the motion at Full Council which asked for more recognition of Biodiversity.

In response to a Member query about biodiversity and planning, the Committee were advised that legislation had come into effect earlier in the year that required all planning applications to provide an ecological survey and that officers would be able to bring an update on how effective it had been in the next annual update.

Resolved – That

(1)  the progress of the Biodiversity & Net Gain strategy 2023-2028 be noted; and

(2)  the priority actions for 2024/2025 for the Biodiversity & Net Gain Strategy outlined in the progress update report be approved.