The report outlined key projects recommended for delivery over the next 12 months by the Habitat Regulations Delivery Manager, agreed by the Officer Working Group. The Annual Business Plan (ABP) is part of an updated 5-year delivery plan, which provides a budget and project timeline for the short and medium term.
Some measures in the 5-year plan, especially those for 2025-29, depend on the success of existing projects, such as the Exe Estuary wildlife refuges, and should be viewed as an indicative guide.
An updated mitigation strategy is nearly complete as part of Local Plan reviews and anticipated for presenting to the partner authorities for agreement in Spring 2025. While the 5-year plan anticipates some new measures, further adjustments will be needed once the new strategy is approved by the partner authorities.
Projects are allocated based on available budget, logical progression, and recommended timelines from the mitigation strategy, using funds from planning permissions.
The "Balance less expenditure" reflects the potential carry-forward of income after projected revenue and expenditure, ensuring funding for mitigation projects over their 80-year lifespan.
The 2024/25 ABP elements were set out to the Committee.
Questions included seeking a timeline for the updated mitigation strategy, including reference to mitigation for Dawlish Warren. The Committee were reminded of the work of the Environment Agency modelling and comparison with the reality of the changes to the area, appreciating the challenges of mitigation for the site whilst balancing the use of the site for recreational purposes. A proposal was made to include annual reporting to the recommendation on Dawlish Warren.
RESOLVED that the Executive Committee:
1. Approves the 2024-25 Annual Business Plan and the commitments and actions set out therein.
2. Notes the updated 5 Year Delivery Plan.
3. Approves that the projects detailed within the report at Dawlish Warren are discontinued and funding is reallocated to future mitigation strategy projects there, in areas less at risk from wave and storm erosion, subject to annual reporting.