Issue - meetings

Report by Chief Executive Officer Alistair Cunningham

Cllr Toby Sturgis, Cabinet Member for Spatial Planning, Development Management and Investment introduced the report seeking approval for the introduction of District Level Licensing for Great Crested Newts in Wiltshire as part of a national roll-out by Natural England, initially for a 24-month period.

Cllr Sturgis explained that as a European protected species, great crested newts (GCN) and their habitats are protected by law. GCN habitat exist across most of Wiltshire and the current process for protecting GCN from the impacts of new development is often expensive to apply and may not ensure the long-term protection of the newts. Mitigation measures that are delivered on site can sometimes be detrimentally affected by unexpected pressures arising from the new development, poor on-going management and maintenance and, in some cases, newts and their habitats can be lost altogether over time.

The Cabinet noted that District Level Licensing for GCN habitats provided an alternative mechanism for protecting newts, which is intended to reduce the uncertainty and the costs on developers and which will enable newt populations to flourish in more suitable locations.

In response to a question from Cllr Ian Thorn, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, about the future protection of the Great Crested Newts, Cllr Sturgis provided assurances that the proposals would enable newt populations to flourish in identified and suitable locations.

Resolved:

1.    Approve the introduction of District Level Licensing for Great Crested Newts into Wiltshire as part of the national roll-out by Natural England.

2.    Delegate authority for the Director of Economic Development and Planning, in consultation with the Director of Legal, Electoral and Registration Services, the Director for Housing and Commercial Development and associated Cabinet Members to:

a.    identify, bring forward and implement as necessary, suitable Council owned land for Great Crested Newts habitat restoration/creation;

b.    should such land be identified, sign up to a Memorandum of Agreement with Natural England to establish the Council as a Habitat Delivery Body, authorised by Natural England, to create and maintain great crested newt habitat within Wiltshire and enter into all other legal agreements deemed necessary to approve the use of Council owned land and protect the Council’s interest.

Reason for Proposal(s):

The proposal introduces an alternative mechanism for protecting newts, which

is intended to:

(i)            Reduce the costs and uncertainty on developers and improve delivery of development (e.g. by the implementation of an agreed mitigation approach that enables the provision of habitat off-site)

(ii)          Enable newt populations to flourish in identified suitable locations.