Issue - meetings

(i)       to note that officers would raise the queries around the areas over both Aberdeen City and Shire (such as Silverburn, Leuchar Moss etc) and what was in the Aberdeenshire LNCS for these sites with colleagues from Aberdeenshire Council at their next meeting;

(ii)       to note that on page 210, the table should read ‘Scotstown Moor’ rather than ‘Scotstown’;

(iii)      to approve the content and the recommendations detailed in the draft report: Local Nature Conservation Sites (LNCSs) Review Report 2025 and instruct the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning to update LNCSs booklet and website information;

(iv)      to note the strategic importance that sites designated for nature, including LNCSs, had in underpinning a range of Council duties, strategies and plans, including delivery of the Council’s Biodiversity Duty, the Council Climate Change Plan, the citywide Net Zero Aberdeen and Aberdeen Adapts and the Local Outcome Improvement Plan (Stretch Outcome 15). Also, that these sites support the future design of a Nature Network, identification of Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) and the 30x30 nature target;

(v)      to instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning to undertake the suggested next steps: a) remove the LNCS designation from Old Manse Wood, b) implement the required boundary changes, c) monitor those sites at risk, d) follow up on confirming land ownerships, where appropriate; and e) continue the wider review process into stage 2, including the potential for any additional sites;

(vi)      to instruct the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning to report back to this Committee with recommendations arising from stage 2 of the LNCSs Review process, in particular the addition of any new LNCSs, by the third quarter of 2026; and

(vii)     to instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning to ensure the outcomes of the next steps and progress on any new LNCSs were reported in the annual Climate & Nature Report.

The Committee had before it a report by the Executive Director City Regeneration and Environment which provided an update on the findings of the Local Nature Conservation Sites (LNCSs) Review and sought approval for the next steps.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      approve the content and the recommendations detailed in the draft report: Local Nature Conservation Sites (LNCSs) Review Report 2025 (Appendix 2), and instruct the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning to update LNCSs booklet and website information;

(b)      note the strategic importance that sites designated for nature, including LNCSs, had in underpinning a range of Council duties, strategies and plans, including delivery of the Council’s Biodiversity Duty, the Council Climate Change Plan, the citywide Net Zero Aberdeen and Aberdeen Adapts and the Local Outcome Improvement Plan (Stretch Outcome 15). Also, that these sites supported the future design of a Nature Network, identification of Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) and the 30x30 nature target;

(c)      instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning to undertake the suggested next steps: i) remove the LNCS designation from Old Manse Wood, ii) implement the required boundary changes, iii) monitor those sites at risk, iv) follow up on confirming land ownerships, where appropriate; and v) continue the wider review process into stage 2, including the potential for any additional sites;

(d)      instruct the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning to report back to this Committee with recommendations arising from stage 2 of the LNCSs Review process, in particular the addition of any new LNCSs, by the third quarter of 2026; and

(e)      instruct the Chief Officer - Strategic Place Planning to ensure the outcomes of the next steps and progress on any new LNCSs were reported in the annual Climate & Nature Report.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to note that officers would raise the queries around the areas over both Aberdeen City and Shire (such as Silverburn, Leuchar Moss etc) and what was in the Aberdeenshire LNCS for these sites with colleagues from Aberdeenshire Council at their next meeting;

(ii)       to note that on page 210, the table should read ‘Scotstown Moor’ rather than ‘Scotstown’; and

(iii)      to approve the recommendations.