Decision details

To endorse the Bird Aware Partnership's revised strategy and supporting financial model as set out at Appendix 1 of the report. 

The current Bird Aware Strategy is over 6 years old and in need of update to ensure it accurately reflects the current position/situation locally; the likely mitigation requirements in the short, medium and long-term; and that financial charging will be able to appropriately mitigate against the levels of development expected in the area, including within the City. The changes proposed also extend the duration of the strategy (from 2034 to 2050), to better support emerging local plans which will run beyond the current strategy period of 2034, of which the emerging Southampton City Vision Local Plan is one.

The only alternative is to not endorse the revised strategy and financial model, which is not recommended as the Council would then need to replicate this work, identifying alternative approaches to ensure the requirements of the Habitats Regulations are met in terms of the impact of increased recreational pressure on the Solent SPAs as a result of new residential development. This would require a significant financial commitment beyond what is budgeted for, would also take a significant amount of time to produce and for internal colleagues to review, and would take time to adopt and put in place the measures required. In addition, the Council and Bird Aware Solent Partnership would also need to review the Council’s membership of the Partnership as a result of this decision.