I would like to make a Freedom of Information request to the council with respect to the implementation of the ‘biodiversity duty’ of the 2021 Environment Act.
1. The duty requires public authorities to undertake a first consideration by January 1 2024. Did the council produce its own first consideration report or document by that date?
Yes.
2. If so, I would like to make a request for any such report or document.
This can be found at the following link Countryside Coast and Heritage Strategy 2024.
Information that has been greyed out is exempt from disclosure under Regulation 13(1) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (Personal Data).
The Council cannot disclose personal information, if releasing it would contravene any of the provisions in the UK General Data Protection Regulation. In this instance release of this information would contravene the first data protection principle and therefore the information is withheld.
3. How many meetings did council officials and elected politicians undertake with respect to the first consideration?
One.
4. The duty asks that public authorities “must agree…policies and objectives as soon as possible after [January 1 2024]”. I would like to request information about how many meetings have been undertaken by council officials and ministers to that end in addition to individual summaries of those meetings.
One. Officers working on the actions are meeting informally as part of their day-to-day roles to deliver them.
5. Has the council agreed policies and objectives related to the duty? If so, I would like to request a summary of those policies.
This can be found at the link in question 2. It includes a set of objectives at section 6.