Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment.

Recommendations:

That the Cabinet response to the Scrutiny Review Recommendations in respect of Nature Recovery, as set out in Appendix 1 of this report, be approved.

Consideration was given to the report which set out the proposed response from Cabinet to the findings and recommendations of the Improving Places Select Commission review on Nature Recovery in Rotherham.

At its meeting of 25 May 2022, the Council resolved to declare a Nature Crisis in Rotherham, noting that almost half of UK wildlife was in long-term decline. This ‘Nature Crisis Motion’ committed the Council to a range of activities, including a review by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board (OSMB) of opportunities to support nature’s recovery in Rotherham. At its meeting on 14 September 2022, OSMB agreed that the review should be undertaken by the Improving Places Select Commission (IPSC), in its 2023 work programme.

The IPSC review of Nature Recovery in Rotherham began in March 2023, involving Council officers and external stakeholders over several months. A summary of the review’s findings and recommendations was presented to Cabinet, at its meeting of 10 June 2024.

The recommendations review was set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

Resolved:

That the Cabinet response to the Scrutiny review recommendations in respect of Nature Recovery, as set out in Appendix 1 of the report, be approved.