Dorset AONB Partnership Board Meeting, 10.00Am, Thurs 16Th
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Dorset AONB Partnership Hosted by Dorset County Council County Hall, Dorchester DT1 1XJ tel: 01305 228239 email: [email protected] web: www.dorsetaonb.org.uk twitter: @DorsetAONB November 2017 Dear Board Member Dorset AONB Partnership Board Meeting, 10.00am, Thurs 16 th November 2017 Dorchester Cricket Pavilion, off Weymouth Avenue, Dorchester The cricket pavilion is located off Weymouth Avenue to the south of Dorchester’s town centre, a short walk from Dorchester South Railway station and close to Fairfield Car Park. There is limited parking on-site (use DT1 2RZ for SatNav to take you onto Sawmills Lane; the building is the first on the left having turned off Weymouth Ave). The meeting will start at 10.00 am sharp, with refreshments from 9.30am. If you are unable to attend it would be helpful if you could send a briefed representative or an update. Please confirm attendance to Theresa McManus on 01305 228246 or [email protected] AGENDA Welcome, introductions and apologies 1 Election of chair 2 Minutes of the last meeting and matters arising 3 Partner updates 4 Delivering the AONB Management Plan, featuring o Wytch Farm Landscape Enhancement Fund o Vales & Hillforts o Coastal Interpretation 5 Budget Headlines [decision] 6 Management Plan Review [decision] Break (15 mins) 7 Arne Moors [presentation] 8 Dorset Food & Drink [presentation] 9 Proposed dates of next meetings: Partnership Board 2018: 17 th May & 15 th November Steering Group 2018: 17 th April & 16 th October 1 © Crown Copyright 201 5 OS licence number: 100019790. 2 Election of AONB Partnership Chair Item for: Election Financial implications: None Summary: The AONB Partnership Board terms of reference state that the Chairman’s term is expected to be 3 years, with the possibility of re-election at the end of that term. Recommendation: The Board re-elects Jim White for a term which enables oversight of management plan review and publication by March 2019 1.1. During the period to March 2019 the AONB team will lead, on behalf of the Partnership, the management plan review process. This is a period of concentrated effort, particularly in articulating the vision and future direction of effort. 1.2. The AONB Steering group recommends that the current AONB Chairman, Jim White, is re-elected at least to cover the period of management plan review in order to maintain continuity. Minutes of the last Partnership Board meeting (25th May, Athelhampton House) Present : Chairman : Jim White (also Dorset LNP) Local Authority Members : Cllr Audrey Burch (North Dorset District Council), Cllr Peter Webb (Purbeck District Council) Sector representatives : Robert Lasseter (NFU), Brian Bleese (Purbeck Heritage Network), Rupert Best (CLA) Defra family officers : Matt Low (Natural England), Local Authority officers : Hilary Jordan (WDDC, WPBC & NDDC), Alison Turnock (PDC), Phil Sterling (DCC) DAONB Team : Tom Munro (Manager), Richard Brown (Landscape Planning Officer), Sue Dampney (Communications Officer), Sarah Harris (South Dorset Ridgeway Support Officer), Jill Hearing (South Dorset Ridgeway Project Officer), Sally King (Visitor, Tourism & Access Manager), Marie McLeish (South Dorset Ridgeway Learning Officer), Ian Rees (Countryside Officer), James Sharpe (South Dorset Ridgeway Project Manager), Julie Turner (Stepping into Nature Project Officer), Katharine Wright (Dorset Food & Drink Coordinator). Apologies: Cllr Hilary Cox (Dorset County Council), Cllr Susie Hosford (West Dorset District Council), Angela Cott (National Trust), Alison Moore (LEP), Roderick Knight (Cultural Partnership), Ian Alexander (Natural England), Ben Rayner & Kim Goonesekara (Environment Agency) ITEM 1: Welcome & minutes of the last Partnership Board meeting Minutes of the last meeting were agreed as correct subject to correcting the date . JW reported good progress since the previous meeting. 3 ITEM 2: Short Updates from Board members re AONB opportunities/issues NFU : RL spoke in a personal capacity about the National Grid Visual Impact Provision (undergrounding) project. As the landowner concerned with the southern sealing end, RL praised the National Grid Project team for the quality and depth of their engagement. RL also praised the role taken by RB (AONB Team). NE: ML described Natural England’s latest reorganisation. ML now covering all of West Dorset for planning services, which have increased staff capacity across Dorset. NE is working up its Focus Areas; there may be an opportunity for the AONB team to feed into that process. PHN: BB shared the Purbeck Heritage priorities document (https://www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/purbeckheritagestrategy ). Now approved by PDC the document is designed to be a mandate for action, to garner support from delivery organisations and funding partners. It is intended to help with project design, particularly those project ideas coming from smaller, often community-level groups. The Dorset Fingerpost Project is highlighted as an example, well supported by local people. NDDC: AB described the position as regards the proposal for unifying Dorset’s councils: direction from the Secretary of State is awaited, decision likely not till autumn. PDC: PW gave an update on the status of the Purbeck Local Plan review. As the previous consultation attracted so much engagement, further work is being undertaken in a series of fora: 5 separated by geography and one district-wide infrastructure forum. A Policy Development Panel has examined the case for National Park designation and has resolved to keep the matter under review. The real debate on the matter is likely to start once a decision has been received from the Secretary of State regarding unitary authorities. CLA: Brexit and the future of food, farming and fisheries policy are high on the organisation’s agenda; the subjects are to be debated with NFU the Bath & West Show. Water quality issues in Poole Harbour and the potential responses to it is a local issue of significance. From a Portland Port perspective, the cruise ship numbers are increasing with a potential 39k passengers next year. Many take a day trip to Bath/Stonehenge/Salisbury; some remain locally. There is significant potential to make more of their presence for the local economy, capitalising on our fantastic natural assets. Dorset Councils : HJ described Local Plan progress: Weymouth, Portland & West Dorset LP to be consulted on this spring; the next phase of review will commence in the new year to take into account changes proposed in the Housing White Paper. North Dorset Issues & Options to be consulted on later this summer; the new calculation methods (for housing numbers) will decide if there is a current 5-year land supply. Current planning tests appear to attach less weight to Local Authority policy not only if the 5-year supply cannot be met, but also if the completion targets are not met. These are optimistic targets. Discussion: - RBe & RL: As landowners and farmers are keen to seek new income streams in the face of economic uncertainty, many are willing to bring forward small plots of land on the edges of villages – could this micro approach help meet the targets more? HJ: This certainly contributes but some large new developments will be necessary to meet the overall housing requirement. - PW: concern about timetabling – pushing back completion dates mean greater risks of not meeting the land supply requirements and consequently weakening the planning policies. DCC : PS reported a very successful year in the Coast & Countryside Service, in particular the AONB team whose budget always comes in precisely balanced. The service has made huge advances in realising efficiencies – doing more with less – and made huge strides in drawing in external funding at the same time (ESIF; CCF; etc). Road verge maintenance now in the service with concentration on reducing fertility to reduce the maintenance burden – this also ties in greater floristic diversity and consequent invertebrate diversity. PS also reported great progress on the Maiden Newton to Bridport Trailway on which much will be open to the public in the next 18 months. Discussion: - RBe queried ragwort control. PS: fertility is part of the problem; there is the flexibility in the system to be able to tackle real ‘trouble spots’ which bring risks to grazing livestock; elsewhere the cultural regime to reduce fertility is being applied. - PS also reported on the JCWHS : Delighted that SK’s transition to the AONB Team has gone ahead; meanwhile the JCWHS team are on track to be transferred to the Jurassic Coast Trust in early July. Following complex negotiations, PS is confident that the JCT has the skills, experience and energy to deliver the expanding role. 4 Dorset LNP: JW described the LNP’s priority areas and particular progress on the theme of ‘natural health service’ following March’s Annual Forum. Currently working on production of ecological network mapping, showing the potential for improved connection between existing good quality sites. ITEM 3: Delivery of the AONB Management Plan The AONB Team presented on delivery. Discussion: - RL enquired as to how the volunteer effort on the South Dorset Ridgeway LPS can be maintained after programme completion, recognising that it requires coordination. TM replied that it’s a key focus for the management team; all are working on legacy development. - RBe suggested contacting a Royal Engineers unit as a potential contractor/deliverer for the Fossil Forest work. ACTION: SK to seek contact details and get in touch. RESOLUTION: The Board approved and noted progress on Management Plan delivery with congratulations to the team ITEM 4: 2016-2017 finances TM presented the paper, highlighting the leverage values and principles for maintaining core and project reserves. RESOLUTION: The Board notes the financial value the AONB team draws in to support Management Plan delivery. ITEM 5: AONB Management Plan Review TM presented the paper. Discussion: PS asked for clarification around separating the management plan from the action plan to ensure longer-term initiatives didn’t get lost from the plan. TM said the intention was that longer-term initiatives and broad principles would remain in the plan.