Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Portfolio Holder for Planning.

(a)    That spending from the Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund be delegated to the:

(i)    Environment/Policy/Partnership Manager – individual expenditure decisions not exceeding £50,000.

(ii)  Head of Planning – individual expenditure decisions over £50,000 but not exceeding £100,000

(iii) Portfolio Holder for Planning in consultation with the Corporate Director for Economic Growth and Infrastructure individual expenditure over £100,000 but not exceeding £1.5m.

(b)    That regular (at least 6 monthly) reports be prepared for the Portfolio Holder to outline the spend to date and the number of homes enabled through the delivery of nutrient mitigation.

(c)    Cabinet agreed to commit to the spend the Local Mitigation Fund on the delivery of nutrient mitigation with the indicative programme of spend as detailed in Appendix 2 to the Cabinet report of 12 March 2024.

(d)    That the emerging outline strategy for the management of nutrient mitigation credits be acknowledged including transitional arrangements as set out in Appendix 3 to the Cabinet report of 12 March 2024.

Reason for the decision

Grant funding had been provided through the Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities for the delivery of nutrient mitigation within the Poole Harbour catchment. Mitigation would need to be provided for qualifying development (primarily residential) in the parts of the catchment that fall within both the Dorset Council area and the BCP Council area, but Dorset Council were accountable for any financial transactions.

The Portfolio Holder for Planning presented a report on the Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund and the arrangements of the oversight and spend of the funds awarded to Dorset. 

Dorset Council had made a bid to receive funds from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund to deliver nutrient mitigation within the Poole Harbour catchment. This mitigation would enable development to take place by offsetting the increase in nutrient loading on the Poole Harbour protected site. This would help to meet the Council’s priorities of protecting its natural environment, climate, and ecology, driving economic prosperity, and creating sustainable development and housing. The Portfolio Holder further reported that it would also help in creating stronger healthier communities through the provision of housing need. 

In response to questions, the Portfolio Holder advised that there were several ways to mitigate nutrients, including meadows and tree planting, however phosphates from waste treatment plants caused issues and he was looking to central government to support water authorities carrying out 100% water cleansing rather than the current average of 75%.  The Head of Planning confirmed that the Environment Agency worked closely with the agriculture sector to deal with agriculture issues and the council worked in partnership with the Environment Agency.

In response to a further question, the Portfolio Holder confirmed that any scrutiny provision would probably require a Joint Scrutiny process with BCP Council in the future.

In presenting the report the Portfolio Holder proposed the recommendation and this was seconded by Cllr R Bryan.

Cabinet members supported the proposals.

 Decision

(a)       That spending from the Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund be delegated to the:

(i)         Environment/Policy/Partnership Manager – individual expenditure decisions not exceeding £50,000.

(ii)        Head of Planning – individual expenditure decisions over £50,000 but not exceeding £100,000

(iii)       Portfolio Holder for Planning in consultation with the Corporate Director for Economic Growth and Infrastructure individual expenditure over £100,000 but not exceeding £1.5m.

(b)       That regular (at least 6 monthly) reports be prepared for the Portfolio Holder to outline the spend to date and the number of homes enabled through the delivery of nutrient mitigation.

(c)        Cabinet agreed to commit to the spend the Local Mitigation Fund on the delivery of nutrient mitigation with the indicative programme of spend as detailed in Appendix 2 to the Cabinet report of 12 March 2024.

(d)       That the emerging outline strategy for the management of nutrient mitigation credits be acknowledged including transitional arrangements as set out in Appendix 3 to the Cabinet report of 12 March 2024.

Reason for the decision

Grant funding had been provided through the Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities for the delivery of nutrient mitigation within the Poole Harbour catchment. Mitigation would need to be provided for qualifying development (primarily residential) in the parts of the catchment that fall within both the Dorset Council area and the BCP Council area, but Dorset Council was accountable for any financial transactions.