LAST CHANCE for parish and town councils to respond to West Oxfordshire District Council's Biodiversity Duty survey

Town and parish councils and parish meetings have a legal obligation to consider biodiversity conservation and enhancement.

Under Section 40(1) of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (amended in the Environment Act 2021), public authorities must consider and act upon the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity in policy and decision-making ("the general biodiversity objective"). It is a proactive duty to "from time to time consider what action the authority can properly take, consistently with the proper exercise of its function, to further the general biodiversity objective."

Government guidance published on 17 May 2023 clarifies that, as a public authority, town and parish councils: 

1. Consider what your council can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity.

2. Agree policies and specific objectives based on your council's consideration.

3. Act to deliver your council's policies and achieve your objectives.



Although the council must fulfil its duty, parish councils/meetings, unlike other authorities, are not obliged to publish a report on their actions.

We would like to find out how town and parish councils/meeting in West Oxfordshire are approaching the Biodiversity Duty and whether they need any advice or other support.

We are therefore asking you to take 10 minutes to complete this form -https://forms.office.com/e/6bV2P3bLMH

Some town and parish councils in West Oxfordshire have published their first considerations, policies and objectives, for example Leafield Parish Council and Chadlington Parish Council.