Agenda item

The Committee received a report on the interim mitigation strategy and noted that the progress made since Committee granted approval in May 2018 for costed mitigation proposals to be submitted, under delegated authority, to

Epping Forest District Council, for inclusion in an interim Mitigation Strategy. Such a Strategy is required to protect Epping Forest Special Area of Conservation (SAC) from the adverse impacts of residential, highways and other developments proposed in forthcoming local plans by the local authorities surrounding the Forest. Each local authority, whose local plan might have a significant adverse impact on the Forest is deemed a competent authority, and so even authorities currently outside the Memorandum of Understanding for Epping Forest SAC are required to contribute to the Mitigation Strategy in a proportionate manner.

This interim strategy covers only mitigation of the likely impacts from recreational pressures. Other issues such as urbanisation and air pollution remain to be considered for avoidance/mitigation as part of a full Strategy still to be negotiated.

The current timetable for the interim Mitigation Strategy is for it to be tabled at a

meeting of the Duty-to-Co-operate Member Board on 10th September prior to it being agreed by each local authority under its governance requirements this autumn. The interim Mitigation Strategy, including a proposed tariff structure, would be brought to this Committee as soon as allowed by this timetable.

Resolved – that the report be received.