Worcestershire Local Nature Recovery Strategy: Briefing Note for Parish Councils

What is a Local Nature Recovery Strategy?
A Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) will be a spatial strategy for nature and environmental improvement. They are required by law under the Environment Act 2021 and 48 LNRS are now in preparation, to cover the whole of England.
LNRS will be a key part of delivering the targets in the Government’s Environmental Improvement Plan for England, by mapping where important habitats can be conserved, restored and connected in order to reverse habitat loss and declines in species. They will also seek to widen environmental benefits, such as flood mitigation and carbon sequestration, and increase access to nature.
Each LNRS will contain:
• A Statement of Biodiversity Priorities with agreed local priorities for nature’s recovery
• A Local Habitat Map showing the most valuable existing areas for nature and areas that could become of particular importance
• Specific proposals or actions (‘measures’) to deliver the agreed local priorities.
Further reading: UK State of Nature Report Worcestershire State of Nature Report Government’s Environmental Improvement Plan
Who is producing the LNRS? Worcestershire County Council is the Defra appointed ‘Responsible Authority’ for preparing the Worcestershire LNRS. The ‘Supporting Authorities’ for the LNRS preparation process are the six District Councils1 and Natural England.
The preparation and delivery of the LNRS will be locally led with support from Government. The Responsible Authority must work in collaboration with the Supporting Authorities, public, private and voluntary sectors to agree a single vision for nature recovery.
What role does the LNRS have in planning and parish-level project delivery? The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 directs that plan making, including neighbourhood development plans, local plans, minerals and waste plans and supplementary plans, must ‘take account of’ any LNRS that relates to the area. Government will provide separate guidance on how local authorities will be expected to comply with their duty to take account of LNRS through their planning functions.
Does the LNRS come with funding? The LNRS itself will not directly provide any funding. Delivery of the priorities and actions identified in the LNRS, and mapped on the Local Habitat Map, will be incentivised through the targeting of public and private finance including, but not limited to:
1 Bromsgrove District Council, Malvern Hills District Council, Redditch Borough Council, Worcester City Council, Wychavon District Council, Wyre Forest District Council
• The new Environmental Land Management schemes • Biodiversity Net Gain • Woodland Creation grants • Carbon Credits • Nature for Climate Peatland Restoration Grants • Species Survival Fund • Flood resilience funding including Natural Flood Management
The Local Habitat Map will increase the opportunity for funding applications for parish-level projects that deliver on measures and in areas that support nature’s recovery, as identified by ‘areas that could become of particular importance for biodiversity’.
When will the LNRS be adopted?
There is no statutory deadline for the publication of the LNRS, however Government hopes that they will be adopted by March 2025. The LNRS is then to be reviewed and republished every 3-10 years, as decided by the Secretary of State. The review and republication will be the same collaborative process with all key partners and stakeholders as was undertaken during its inception.
Preparation of the Worcestershire LNRS
You can check progress in preparing the Worcestershire LNRS by visiting the Worcestershire County Council LNRS webpage. LNRS preparation will involve two rounds of public consultation:
Issues and Options Consultation
This consultation will include a draft Local Habitat Map and will ask for stakeholder views on the potential opportunities for nature recovery that exist within Worcestershire. The consultation will run for 6 weeks from Monday 15th January to Friday 23rd February 2024. As statutory consultees Parish Councils will receive notification of the commencement of the consultation.
Draft Local Nature Recovery Strategy Consultation
This is anticipated in Autumn 2024.
Engaging with LNRS preparation
Parish Councils, local communities, landowners, managers, countryside users and local interest groups are all key stakeholders in LNRS preparation. Parish Councils can support the LNRS preparation process by communicating the contents of this briefing note to residents and highlighting the upcoming Issues and Options Consultation. Once live, the following consultation documents and resources will be available on the Worcestershire County Council LNRS webpage:
• Issues and Options Consultation Paper
• Issues and Options Questionnaire
• Draft Local Habitat Map
• Draft Local Habitat Map Questionnaire
If you would like to contact WCC about the LNRS please email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
You can access further information and updates from Defra on LNRS via the Defra Local Nature Recovery Strategy webpage.
You can access further information and updates from Defra on Biodiversity Net Gain via the Defra Biodiversity Net Gain webpage.

16 January 2024
Procurement Thresholds
The thresholds for public procurement have changed from 1 January 2024
Public contracts, with an estimated value (including VAT, since 1 January 2022):
over £214,904 (previously £213,477) for goods or services, or
over £5,372,609 (previously £5,336,937) for public works (construction),
must comply with the full requirements of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (which will be replaced by the Procurement Act, when it takes effect later in 2024). These include specific tendering methods and timescales, as well as a requirement to advertise on both the Contracts Finder website and Find-a-Tender (the UK e-notification service).
Where a contract will run for several years, it is the total (not annual) value that matters.
Where the estimated total value (including VAT) is below these thresholds, but exceeds £30,000 (after 21 December 2022), a council is required to advertise the opportunity on Contracts Finder if they publish an open invitation to quote/tender. If they are inviting specific firms and not opening it up to wider competition, they don’t have to advertise the opportunity on Contracts Finder (Public Contracts Regulations 2015, Reg. 110(5)(b)).
However, a council must comply with its own Standing Orders and Financial Regulations and if those regulations require an open invitation and a formal tender process, the council should follow them. Tendering processes ensure fair competition, achieve value for money and avoid anti-competitive behaviour. They protect the council and taxpayers.
If a council simply chooses specific firms to invite, it must avoid allowing non-commercial considerations (defined in Part 2 of the Local Government Act 1988) to influence its decisions. If a council invites some suppliers and not others, it should record its reasons.
If the council genuinely believed the value would be under £30,000 but the tenders came in above that, the Regulations do not require it to go back and start again.
Regardless of whether the opportunity was advertised, Regulation 112 requires a council to publish the award of a contract over £30,000 on Contracts Finder within a reasonable timescale. There is no specified timescale for parishes, but we suggest within 3 months.
Disclaimer
This bulletin is only intended as a brief guide and councils should ensure they follow the Regulations and guidance on www.gov.uk, seeking professional advice if they are in any doubt. The Parkinson Partnership LLP accepts no liability for any loss arising from situations where councils have not followed the law and guidance.

Holiday Pay Calculations

Chris Moses, Personnel Advice & Solutions, advises parish and town councils on the implications of new holiday regulations that come into effect from April 2024. Read the full article

Funding News

Inclusive Communities Fund - The Fund aims to strengthen the achievements, prompted by the Games, offering community organisations access to new funding to make a difference for the people they work with. The webinars and word documents of all application forms are now available on their website, please visit Free Resources - United by 2022 - Games Legacy  You may also wish to read through their existing support for applicants here.

Women and Girls Fund - There is a gender activity gap!  Women are less active than men at every stage of life and we must take intentional steps to create the safe spaces, places & ways to be active. The Think Active Women and Girls’ Fund is aimed at providing opportunities to enable women and girls to be active, to promote mental wellbeing and physical health, now and into later life. They are looking for projects that are keen to grow their existing provision for women and girls or want to introduce and build new opportunities. Grants of up to £5,000 available, for more information and to apply, please click here. Closing Date: 31 January 2024.

Community Ownership Fund – 19 Parish and Town Councils nationwide have again successfully secured around £4.5 million from the Community Ownership Funds.  The fund aims to support local people in saving, developing, or restoring local community assets, such as libraries, town and village halls, pubs, nature reserves, and garden projects. Round three of the fund launched in May 2023 and opened to Town and Parish Councils. The funding will be opened in four windows. The third window is open and will close on 31 January 2024. Find out how to apply

Take a look at this bulletin 

https://www.communitiesprepared.org.uk/events/

TOWN, PARISH & COMMUNITY COUNCILS - D-DAY 80 - 6TH JUNE 2024

This year the  D-Day 80 - 6th June 2024, will be celebrated throughout the UK, Channel Islands, Isle
of Man and UK Overseas Territories in Commemoration/Celebration of the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day
landings on the five Beaches in Normandy, France, which took place on 6th June 1944. This will enable your
Council and local community to use this occasion to pay ’tribute’ to the many, many thousands that
sacrificed so much in helping to secure the freedom we all enjoy today. With this in mind, here is a list which has been 
developed several ways in which your Council and community can take part in this special occasion.

(1) BEACON: Light a Beacon at 9.15pm on 6th June, as encouraged by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (See
page 3) of the Guide To Taking Part which can be viewed and downloaded from the D-Day 80 website -
www.d-day80beacons.co.uk

From the Guide (see pages 41 to 45), you will see there are several styles of Beacons that can be used for
this occasion, many of which you may have used for previous occasions, and those of you with the
permanent Beacon Braziers and gas fuelled Beacons produced for our late Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum
Jubilee, are urged to re-use these to save money. With regard to the Bonfire Beacons (see pages 41 and
42), these are ideal for country parks, village greens and our farms throughout the UK etc.

(2) LAMP LIGHT OF PEACE: We understand that there are areas of our local communities unable to
light Beacons for various reasons, so we have developed the Lamp Light of Peace (see page 39) providing a
simple and cost effective way of becoming and being part of this event by lighting it at 9.15pm on 6th June
next year, coinciding with the lighting of the Beacons that night, and once used for this occasion, they can be
re-lit at 11am on 11th November in ‘Remembrance’ for many years to come. (The flame in the Lamp, along
with the Beacons, will represent the ‘light of peace’ that emerged from the dreadful darkness of War). We
believe these are suitable for Care Homes, Hospitals, and Pubs etc, and have already had several taking
part. (See examples on the D-Day 80 website).

(3) RINGING OUT FOR PEACE: With the valuable assistance of the Central Council of Church Bell
Ringers (see website), we are encouraging every Cathedral and Church throughout the UK, Channel Islands
and the Isle of Man to ring their Bells at 6.30pm on 6th June, so we ask you to contact your local Churches
etc, inviting them to take part.

(4) All those taking part in the above will be sent the Certificate of Grateful Recognition, enabling them to
download, print and frame it as a permanent reminder of their involvement (see website). From the website
and Guide To Taking Part, you will see there are other elements taking place, making up this
Commemoration/Celebration event, with many taking part already as their personal tributes. Those taking
part in this event are being asked to go to page 52 in the Guide, outlining their involvement as requested,
to enable us to register their participation, and send them their Certificate.

We do hope that your Council will participate in one or more of the above, and look forward to hearing
from you in due course.
My warmest regards to you all,
Bruno Peek CVO OBE OPR
Pageantmaster, D-Day 80, 6th June 2024
Telephone: + 44 (0) 7737 262 913
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.d-day80beacons.co.uk

We need your help! 

We are looking to get this information out to as many residents in Worcestershire as possible – through community centres and hubs, village halls and parish councils (any means possible) etc.

Helen Mehaffey

Project Manager HUG2

Economy and Infrastructure

Worcestershire County Council, County Hall, Spetchley Road, Worcester, WR5 2NP

Tel:  01905 845398 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.     

Free home improvements now available to residents in Worcestershire.

Worcestershire County Council has received Government funding as part of the drive to save energy and make homes warmer.  Warmer homes can also improve well-being and help with certain health conditions.

The Home Upgrade Grant scheme (HUGs) is designed to tackle colder homes that do not have mains gas central heating.  Homeowners and tenants in Worcestershire could benefit from a variety of measures to help reduce energy bills including: internal and external wall insulation, loft and cavity wall insulation, air source heat pumps, solar panels, draught proofing and many more.

To qualify, households must not use mains gas to heat their home (but may have a supply for cooking, and have a gross annual income of less than £31,000 with a current Home Energy Performance certificate (EPC) rating of D to G.

Funding is also available for landlords in the charity and private rented sector.

Those who qualify for the scheme, will undergo a free technical survey to see which improvements would be most suitable and help improve energy efficiency the most.

Worcestershire County Council is working in partnership with local energy charity Act on Energy, along with Redditch Borough Council, Bromsgrove, Wychavon and Malvern Hills District Councils to deliver this programme. 

If you live in Worcester City or Wyre Forest District, visit your council’s website for information on the schemes operating in your area. 

If you think you might qualify or know of anyone that might benefit from this scheme it is easy to apply.  

For more information, including full eligibility, and to register your interest visit:     

Home Upgrade Grant Scheme (HUG2) | Worcestershire County Council  OR

 To speak to an energy advisor contact Act on Energy on their free advice line 0800 988 2881

Please find below the lastest Civlitiy and Respect Newsletter.

https://worcscalc.org.uk/administrator/index.php?option=com_edocman&task=document.download&id=170&Itemid=402

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has been notified by the Local Government Association (LGA) that it has come to an agreement on the 2023/24 pay offer with the unions representing local government employees

 E01-23 Pay Agreement 2023-24

Model Financial Regulations Consultation

NALC is working with The Parkinson Partnership LLP to update its 2019 Model Financial Regulations for England and Wales. The model financial regulations are part of a support package that parish and town councils receive through their WALC (and therefore NALC) membership. They are an essential tool for councils of all sizes, setting out the framework within which the council ensures responsible, sustainable and compliant management of its finances.

NALC is seeking views on the technical aspects of the regulations. The responses will inform the revision and content of the model financial regulations.  Tickets are of course free, but booking is required. Please click on the links below to join this essential consultation.

2 October 2023          12.00 – 13.00
12 October 2023        18.30 – 19.30

The Royal British Legion (RBL) recently launched Councillor Network. The aim is to enhance the support RBL provides to those who serve in local government. All elected representatives from every level of local government – including from local (town and parish) councils – are invited to join.

Members of the Network will receive regular communication about how local government can support the Armed Forces community, and about the wider work of RBL, ranging from Remembrance, to Fundraising, to Membership. If you would like to be in touch with a member of the Campaigns, Policy and Research team to learn more about the RBL Councillor Network, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Read the blog

Staying Healthy in Worcestershire survey

What should our priorities be when helping people stay healthy for longer?

We want your views. Tell us in our new survey, Staying Healthy in Worcestershire. It takes just 5 minutes of your time. 

To access the survey click on this link Staying Healthy in Worcestershire