Biodiversity Net-Gain monitoring fees
SCREENING
Last updated 20 June 2025
The assessment
New or existing service or policy?
Existing
Directorate
Strategic Growth
Officer(s) responsible for:
- Service/policy/project: Paul Allen, Tree and Biodiversity Officer
- Completing equality impact assessment: Sally Horne, Senior Planning Policy Officer
Date
20 June 2025
What is the purpose? What are the outcomes?
It is proposed that the monitoring fees are updated to reflect national guidance issued by the Planning Advisory Service. Fess will be calculated using the Verna calculator.
Are there any statutory requirements? Who are the main customer groups / stakeholders?
Regulation 10 of the Community Infrastructure Levy (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 states that monitoring fees can be sought where: a) the sum to be paid fairly and reasonably relates in scale and kind to the development; and b) the sum to be paid to the authority does not exceed the authority’s estimate of its cost of monitoring the development over the lifetime of the planning obligations which relate to that development. Under the Environment Act 2021, 10% Biodiversity Net-Gain (BNG) became a mandatory requirement for all development from January 2024.
Who is intended to benefit from this service/policy? How will they benefit?
The policy will help provide funding for monitoring Biodiversity Net Gain across the district. The policy will benefit the districts population by helping to improve the natural environment.
What information are you using? What does the evidence show you?
Its a statutory requirement that we monitor BNG and we are entitled to charge a monitoring fee to undertake the monitoring.
What impact does the service/policy/project have on the following equality strands?
Protected characteristics: definitions
Prior to the Equality Act 2010, there were 3 separate public sector equality duties covering race, disability and gender. The Equality Act 2010 replaced these with a new single equality duty covering the following protected characteristics.
| Characteristic and definition | Impact and evidence |
|---|---|
|
1. Age |
Neutral Evidence: no impact |
|
2. Disability |
Neutral Evidence: no impact |
|
3. Gender Reassignment |
Neutral Evidence: no impact |
|
4. Marriage and Civil Partnership |
Neutral Evidence: no impact |
|
5. Pregnancy and Maternity |
Neutral Evidence: no impact |
|
6. Race |
Neutral Evidence: no impact |
|
7. Religion of belief |
Neutral Evidence: no impact |
|
8. Sex |
Neutral Evidence: no impact |
|
9. Sexual Orientation |
Neutral Evidence: no impact |
|
Other e.g. deprivation, health inequalities, urban/rural divide, community safety |
Neutral Evidence: no impact |
Review
Can any differential impact be justified? (for example promoting equality of opportunity)
None
Does any adverse impact amount to unlawful discrimination?
No, this applies to all applications regardless of any protected characteristics.
What alternative actions could be taken to mitigate any adverse impact? (add these to the action plan)
There are no adverse impacts
Consultation
Detail any specific consultation on this service/policy (if there is insufficient data, further consultation will need to be undertaken and included in the action plan)
Not applicable
Conclusion
Can the service/policy proceed?
Yes
Is a full assessment required?
No
Note: A full EqIA is required if the initial screening has identified the service/policy/project is going to have the potential to cause adverse impact or discriminate against different groups in the community or the Council’s workforce.
How will the service/policy be monitored and reviewed? (please give timescale)
The service will be monitored by the Planning team.
Signed: Sally Horne, Senior Planning Policy Officer
Date: 20 June 2025