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. RL asked about the plan’s audience: who’s it being written for? TM explained the broad audience (from Defra to local community groups or individuals); he also said that exploring this question is something that the team will do in advance of November’s Board meeting. RESOLUTION: i) The Local Authority representatives invite the Partnership Board to review the plan on their behalves ii) The Board delegates management of the process and detailed delivery to a Management Plan review group made up of the AONB Steering Group and a few additions to represent a broad range of interests iii) The Board approves the principles with which the review is to be conducted iv) The Board approved the process and timetable set out
ITEM 6: Environmental organisations’ roles in Health & Wellbeing Presentations from Maria Clarke (Dorset LNP), Rupert Lloyd (Dorset Public Health) and Julie Hammon (Dorset AONB). Discussion: - RL pointed out that many farmers and landowners prefer stiles to gates as they reduce the risk of lost and wandering stock. PS responded that access improvements of this sort are being done in partnership with the farmers and landowners on the routes and that self-closing gates are available where this risk exists. RESOLUTION: The Board approved the proposed budget and funding priorities for the next financial year as outlined in the papers
Date of Next Meeting: Thursday 16 th November 2017 (venue tbc)
Anyone wishing to raise agenda items should do so by email to [email protected] by 16 th October, following which any suggestions will be considered by the AONB Steering Group.
5 Board member ambassadorship & AONB opportunities
AONB Board Members are encouraged to take an ambassadorial role for the AONB’s landscape designation and its managing Partnership, primarily within the organisation or sector which they represent but wider afield. The team offers an introduction to the role and the landscape to new board members in order to help them fulfil this. The AONB Chairman requests Partnership Board members to feed back to the Board briefly (2 mins max): How you have raised AONB issues / news to your organisation How you have helped promote awareness of the AONB in your organisation / wider afield Any new opportunities for engaging in the delivery of the AONB Management Plan
Delivering the Management Plan: progress report
Item for: Information
Report by: AONB Team
Summary: The AONB team is leading, coordinating, promoting and supporting delivery of the actions and intent of the AONB Management Plan as the central part of its core duties and through specific projects.
Financial implications: Delivery based on agreed budget and business plan.
Recommendation: The Board approves and notes the progress made towards delivering the AONB Management Plan 2014-2019
4.1. Action area reporting The table on the following page shows Defra’s expectations of an AONB staff unit and the report headings under which those functions are reported.
AONB TEAM
4.2. AONB team Steph Aburrow has been appointed to the role of Stepping into Nature Support Assistant and started in August. Keira Diment joined the team at the beginning of September, as Dorset Food & Drink Assistant. Theresa McManus has been recruited as the Dorset AONB Support Officer, and will be working 2.5 days/week. She brings with her a great enthusiasm for organisation and administration as well as a background in sustainability and greenspace. Theresa will support the work of the whole team and partnership.
6 CORE WORK CORE Drink & Food Dorset LPS Ridgeway Dorset South legacy NIA Purbeck Wild Roads Rural Nature into Stepping Assment Condition / AONBCharacter Marshwood Magical Woodlands Community Biomass Carbon Low Management Visitor JC Defra's core functions of an AONB staff unit Developing reviewing, preparing and publishing the AONB vision and the CRoW Act AONB a Management Plan Promoting the AONB vision and management plan to help distinguish the AONB from adjacent b countryside Advising upon, facilitating and co-ordinating implementation by others of the Management c Plan Advising Local Authorities on their activities within AONBs, to encourage them to go beyond d normal levels of service(attain the highest possible standards) in countryside management e Monitoring and reporting on progress against AONB Management Plan targets
f Monitoring AONB landscape condition
g Accessing resources for management activities Working with and contributing to the NAAONB activities, sharing advice and best practice h nationally and regionally Providing a management role to co-ordinate AONB protection through the actions of the AONB i unit, the AONB partnership and other partners at a local and strategic level. j Developing an involvement by the community in the management of the AONB
k Providing landscape related planning advice
CORE WORK
4.3. Providing landscape-related planning advice via the Planning Protocol: A wide range of planning consultations have been handled since the last Board meeting. Housing, tourism and energy related development have been trends within the consultations handled. Notable cases and themes include: • Plans to replace the Haven Hotel at Sandbanks with a large development of apartments. Our response to the initial proposals has led to a detailed study being commissioned, which appears to be resulting in a substantial reduction to the proposed height of the replacement building. We are expecting to be involved in further discussion regarding the appearance of the reduced proposal. • Proposals to construct beach huts below the Pines Hotel in Swanage. The applicant appealed their initial proposal on the grounds of non-determination and simultaneously submitted an identical application, which has now been refused by Purbeck District Council. Our response provided detailed analysis of the assessment that was provided in support of the application. We are currently awaiting the decision of the Planning Inspectorate regarding the format of the appeal. Although the applicant has requested a public inquiry, it is considered unlikely that this will occur. The Team has provided responses to applications for housing development at Vearse Farm (outline), Mosterton (detailed) and land adjacent to Watton Park, Bridport (detailed). In all cases, issues of housing density, layout and planting have been raised.
7 A wide range of camping and caravanning applications have been handled, as sites across the AONB look to enhance their provision in advance of next year’s season. An increased interest in glamping, particularly the use of safari tents and shepherd’s huts has been observed. There has been a slight increase in large scale solar developments in the Blackmore Vale, with some EIA screening requests received for large scale arrays located at least 5km from the AONB boundary. There have been two applications received for battery storage developments, in locations close to National Grid infrastructure. One application was outside of the AONB and unlikely to produce an effect on the designated area. The other is in a location close to Loders and is proposed to occupy a disused farmstead. This is a relatively new form of development and careful consideration will be given to the location and appearance of new infrastructure.
4.4. Accessing resources / project development The AONB Team has steering input to the following strategic organisations which we anticipate could be a source of funds for conserving and enhancing the AONB • Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (Rural Enterprise Group / Dorset Destination Management Organisation) • Southern Dorset Local Action Group ESIF: Dorset County Council’s European Structural and Investment Fund application was successful, bringing in £2.4 million of investment to stimulate the low carbon economy in Dorset over the next three years, including development of the biomass heat and power supply chain, led by Dorset AONB. Recruitment for a Biomass Development Officer took place, but no applications were received. A new delivery model is being considered, through consultancy contracts. National Grid Landscape Enhancement Initiative: the bid for the Marshwood Vale has been recommended for approval (subject to OFGEM sign-off). The bid is for nearly £200,000 to invest in hedgerows, trees, grasslands and orchards in the Marshwood Vale. Delivery partners are the Dorset Wildlife Trust and National Trust. National Grid Landscape Enhancement Initiative: South Dorset Ridgeway / “the rest”. A bid for landscape enhancements between the River Brit and Nottington passed the first hurdle; a full application has been submitted. This is for nearly £200,000 for investment in grassland management and enhancement, hedges, stone walls and trees in the project area. Purbeck: £1.7M for landscape and access mitigation associated with the continued operation of the Wytch Farm oilfield is being released mid-November following the granting of planning permission in July this year. Marshwood Vale : The team is in the early stages of investigating the feasibility of a Heritage Lottery Fund Landscape Partnership Scheme bid for the Marshwood Vale, building on the ambitions within the LEI bid and of the National Trust. An expression of interest has been submitted to the HLF and a meeting is scheduled for later in November to explore the viability of the bid. Timescales: • Round 1 application deadline 31st May 2018 for a decision in October. • Development can take up to 25 months and delivery 5 years. • Submit Round 2 application, at the latest, by December 2020 • Delivery complete, at the latest, by December 2025 Grants available from £100,000 to £3M. Match funding of 10% is required (5% for projects under £1M).
4.5. National Association for AONBs / Protected Landscapes collaboration Several staff attended the NAAONB Annual Conference in Winchester in July. Tom Munro led a workshop on outdoor arts with local arts partner Activate. The NAAONB Chairmen’s conference is on 23 rd November; Tom Munro has been asked to speak about Dorset Food & Drink. The AONB Team continue to work on a project spanning Dorset, Cranborne Chase, North Wessex Downs, Chilterns and North Norfolk AONBs.
8 We collaborated with the NAAONB and AONB family with Outstanding Week, which promoted events in the AONB family, in September. The team hosted a visit from the Surrey Hills and Kent Downs AONB teams to share learning
4.6. Promotion of the AONB : Events & publications Dorset AONB have attended 10 festivals over the summer, promoting Dorset AONB publications and projects, particularly Dorset Food & Drink and South Dorset Ridgeway Landscape Partnership. The Dorset AONB Annual Review 2016/17 (http://www.dorsetaonb.org.uk/our-work/annual-review- 2016-17) was distributed to Councillors of funding authorities in July. The Annual Review is a set of 8 postcards which highlight key successes and showcase images from the Site Seeing Photo Competition. Copies will be available at the Partnership Board meeting.
4.7. Promotion of the AONB : Website & social media Regular newsletters continue to be circulated to c6000 members of the public and local organisations, with news of events, training, activities and project updates. This mailing list is developed through sign ups at public events and through AONB Team contacts. Social media following • 6,439 followers @DorsetAONB • 20,700 followers @DorsetFoodDrink; 1065 followers on DF&D Facebook page • 1242 followers @LandBoneStone • 270 followers @StepIn2Nature ; 90 followers on Facebook page
South Dorset Ridgeway Partnership has a Land of Bone & Stone Flickr gallery, (https://www.flickr.com/photos/131152284@N07/albums) providing a comprehensive record of activity including guided walks and volunteer events. A regular SDRLP e-newsletter is sent to a mailing list of over 1,000 with details of forthcoming events. Stepin2nature.org is the projects new URL and we are in the process of developing new webpages on Dorset AONB website.
4.8. Monitoring AONB condition : A Dorset Explorer layer has been created to allow access to the images and to show their relationship with the AONB’s landscape character areas: https://explorer.geowessex.com/lca Further progress has been made with photographic monitoring, with additional locations towards the Piddle Valley and North Dorset. Images can be viewed online at http://gigapan.com/profiles/Dorset_AONB & http://gigapan.com/profiles/Dorset_AONB_2 . Many of the images have also been added to Dorset Explorer, enabling a map-based view of locations across the AONB.
9 A meeting with consultants has been held to discuss the use of satellite imagery available for the purposes of landscape monitoring. The data could be used to generate a detailed analysis of landcover types and distribution across the AONB.
DORSET AONB PROJECTS
4.9. South Dorset Ridgeway Landscape Partnership: Conserving and restoring significant monuments in the South Dorset Ridgeway’s ancient ceremonial landscape a. Volunteers trained to survey and record the condition of monuments at risk have completed nearly 250 barrow surveys. The surveys inform management work, and volunteer work parties have cleared scrub from over 20 barrows and other monuments on the Ridgeway. Historic England recently highlighted the significance of this work to their Heritage at Risk project: http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/15619164.Historic_England_heaps_praise_on_the_South_Dors et_Ridgeway_Project/ b. Adam Butcher, working as our Countryside Ranger on the Ridgeway moved on to a new challenge. The West Dorset team under Russell Goff will meet the remaining commitments for the SDR LP collectively
4.10. South Dorset Ridgeway Landscape Partnership: Conserving and restoring priority habitats, species and other natural heritage a. Volunteer work parties continue to manage scrub on 4 priority habitat sites out of the breeding season (3 chalk grassland sites, 1 SNCI of rare heathland on chalk). b. Black and Belted Galloway cattle are now grazing on Black Down, thereby helping to manage the bracken and encourage heathland species to bounce back: Dorset Echo - Dorset Heathland Beauty Spot restored to former glory c. FWAG and DWT have made c100 advisory visits to Ridgeway farms to date leading to four successful Higher Tier Countryside Stewardship applications with a further twelve applications (Higher & Mid Tier and Hedgerow & Boundary) submitted or in progress. If successful these would represent a significant legacy for the Ridgeway project in terms of improving the condition of priority habitat. d. FWAG have run 11 Carbon Club meetings to date; these are well attended by Ridgeway farmers and recent topics have included practical methods of carbon storage and emission reduction for arable and livestock systems. 50% of Ridgeway farmers have engaged with FWAG projects to date. e. The Dorset Wildlife Trust have undertaken 16 visits to five separate sites to assess sections of the South Winterbourne with a hope to restore more of its natural character to up to 1.5km of its course. Three detailed management plans have been produced, including water vole/otter surveys and historic environment assessment (water meadows).
4.11. South Dorset Ridgeway Landscape Partnership: Increasing participation in local heritage - management and celebration A further three fingerposts are undergoing restoration in Portesham parish. We are updating the condition survey of fingerposts and milestones in the Ridgeway area in order to prioritise the next targets for restoration. We recruited and trained fourteen new fingerpost volunteers to help ‘fettle & paint’ the letters and signs. To date 18 training days have been delivered to 95 participants on flora and wildlife identification, survey and recording skills, and over 2,000 new records have been added to Dorset’s Living Record database, managed by Dorset Environmental Records Centre. Artsreach have completed delivery of their project Celebrating the Ridgeway during which they ran 65 creative workshops for over 900 children, engaging them with Ridgeway themes through creative activities such as stone carving, story-telling and the creation of a Bincombe Bumps Geocache Trail We supported Dorset Countryside and some of our volunteers in restoring Bishop’s Lime Kiln, near Abbotsbury.
10 We worked with the Dorset Dry Stone Walling Association to train local volunteers and restore a section of locally distinct wall in Portesham, it went very well and the volunteers are now hoping to restore a second wall in the village. Four more smartphone apps have been launched under our project delivered by Partner Satsymph. These include the final two of the original provision, plus another two additional apps. The two additional apps are themed, ‘Poetry Parks’, located over Maiden Castle and Eggardon Hill they present recordings of creative writing by local people in response to those places. Our Community Archaeologist, Hayley Roberts delivered 9 events exploring over 100 sites listed on the Historic Environment Record. Forty three people took part, undertaking field surveys of features previously only recorded from aerial photography. Hayley also became a mother! We have delivered two film shows of historic rural life with SDR Partner, Windrose Rural Media Trust. Both shows were well attended with venues at capacity. The films were shown in the context of talking to people about their memories, hopes and concerns for the future of the landscape. Windrose have also undertaken a number of individual recorded interviews with people on this subject.
4.12. South Dorset Ridgeway Landscape Partnership: Improving access to the South Dorset Ridgeway heritage Ground works and construction of the walls are nearly complete at our new car park on Black Down. The walling contractor is well underway with building the sculptural elements. We launched a Field Guide and the first two of six maps to help people better understand and enjoy the Ridgeway landscape. These publications have been designed by artist Amanda Wallwork, the maps reproduced from original drawings by Amanda. They have been extremely well received. To date 63 guided walks have been held, led by experts and volunteers, engaging over 1,000 participants with the archaeology, geology and wildlife of the Ridgeway.
4.13. South Dorset Ridgeway Landscape Partnership: Increasing understanding of the SDR heritage through formal and informal learning opportunities: The learning projects programme saw continued progress this quarter. The number of schools engaged in the programme is now 43. To date some 7,000 school children have taken part in ridgeway activities and learning, with 2,380 children visiting the Ridgeway. Several schools have embedded the South Dorset Ridgeway in curriculum delivery, especially Damers First School, Prince of Wales First School, St Nicholas & St Laurence Primary school, and St Mary’s Primary school. A small number of schools mention the South Dorset Ridgeway in their school development plans. Some 320 school children from 9 schools took part in the SDR Schools Festival this year, which ran on the 19 & 20 September, in the grounds of Kingston Maurward Colllege. There were 12 workshops to choose from, including Cloudscapes, Wild art, Finds of the ridgeway, Birds of prey, Countryside skills and Forest school. The festival was again, a huge success, underpinned by the full support of the SDR team, the DAONB team, and the ranger team. Each played an instrumental role in ensuring the day ran to plan. Workshop leaders delivered a fantastic range of activities, and worked really hard. All returned evaluation forms have been extremely positive.
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Chalk Art Sarah Butterworth
Kick Start trips to the ridgeway have become a regular activity for several schools. The summer term saw 21 classes visit the ridgeway, all supported by a range of experts including Archaeology, Film & Photography, and Story making. Access to Experts Good progress is being achieved. This quarter 4 more offers got underway, mainly due to the development of a teacher’s toolkit for KS1, Myths & Legends of the South Dorset Ridgeway. We will achieve our target of 8 live briefs for the project. While 3 have been completed, a further 5 are in progress, with completion expected by end Jan 2018
4.14. South Dorset Ridgeway Landscape Partnership: Developing skills in heritage management: To date 150 people have volunteered with the project, contributing over 1,700 days of volunteer effort. Around half of these volunteer on a regular basis and a festive event was held before Christmas to reward and celebrate their achievements, with certificates presented to the Windswept Women and Rugged Man who are making such an impact in this landscape. Over 50 people have been introduced to dry stone walling to date; many have continued to be involved with regular work parties led by our partner organisations, EuCAN and the Dry Stone Walling Association, restoring over 300m of wall on 4 sites and contributing nearly 800 days of volunteer effort. Nearly 40 people have been introduced to hedgelaying to date and a regular group of volunteers have laid over 800m of hedge, contributing over 200 days of volunteer effort. Kingston Maurward College have completed delivery of their second of three 20 week courses on the Ridgeway and are recruiting for the third and final course.
4.15. Wild Purbeck Nature Improvement Area a. The Wytch Farm Section 106 agreement was finally signed towards the end of July. £1.7 million was paid to Dorset County Council at the end of October. This is to be used to offset adverse effects on the Dorset AONB and in particular the two landscape character areas in the vicinity of the oilfield (South Purbeck Heaths and Rempstone Wooded Pastures). The Wytch Farm Landscape and Access Enhancement Fund will be open for applications in the new year. Projects must strengthen landscape character, enhance biodiversity and / or improve rights of way. The applications will be assessed by a panel. The members of the panel have been confirmed and the panel had its first meeting in October. One key project looking to apply for funding from this is the large grazing unit. b. The RSPB has purchased Arne plantation with a grant from the Esmee Fairbairn foundation. The RSPB has two years in which to fund raise and pay back the loan. c. A public engagement event took place at Arne Moor in early October at Wareham Town Hall, at which the RSPB, Natural England and Environment Agency set out their vision for the area. A contract has been let to carry out ground investigations on site this autumn, and intertidal hydraulic modelling will also be undertaken. Engineering decisions on the location of the set-back tidal embankments will be influenced by the results of the public consultation. Implementation of the project is planned for 2021.
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4.16. Dorset Food & Drink Membership stands at 250+; we continue to support all with industry information, event invitations, and support and advice and promote them through various channels. DF&D now has its board of directors (total of 9) for the DF&D Community Interest Company. The new DF&D board of directors have had some meetings and have agreed the way forward including a new stand alone website, which should be launched in February 2018; new membership packages, including corporate packages/memberships and a new style for the directory. Keira Diment joined the team at the beginning of September. Kiera is supporting Katharine Wright with the day to day running of the organisation, assisting the board and supporting many of the events throughout the year. Kiera joined us having done a level 3 diploma in hospitality at KMC. The new Dorset Pedals, for the areas North and East of the county as a mini-project sponsored by Defra’s Great British Food Unit, has been a success and the leaflets have been extremely popular with locals and visitors. The 40,000 copies of the 2017 guide have now all been distributed, with some in reserve for the Christmas Fair and early next year, and is still available online at https://joom.ag/hruW Next week we will host our 5 th Christmas Food & Drink Fair at Athelhampton, this year we have made it a 2 DAY event – Saturday 25 th & Sunday 26 th November. We are working with a local charity to bring in Santa for a day! A busy spring and summer season is just ending but we will be back again in 2018 supporting many of the usual ever popular food events. A new one next year is at Abbotsbury on Easter Saturday. A great night at the DF&D Dorset Magazine’s Dorset Food, Drink and Farming Awards where DF&D had good exposure and will hopefully be headline sponsor next year too. The DF&D trip to the House of Parliament to showcase the food and drink of North Dorset with Simon Hoare MP, was postponed/cancelled until further notice. Four very successful networking events held this year, including, the Lesley Walters launch, tour of Langham Vineyard, tour of Ford Farm, and a cocktail night at Morrish & Banham. The storytelling toolkit is now available to download for food & drink businesses across the county, and is being promoted by the DTA and the Culture + group, as well as ourselves. The Bournemouth Hotel and Catering Show is not happening next year so in communication with the Source Show in Exeter. We continue liaising with Visit Dorset & the Dorset Tourism Association, offering great opportunities for the members and improving Dorset’s visitor offer. We also continue to act as voice for DF&D members at LNP, LEP, DTA, Northern & Southern LAG, and the Growth Hub
4.17. Stepping into Nature Steph Aburrow started as the Stepping into Nature project assistant on the 22nd August and has hit the ground running with the promotion and communication of the activities. 68 Activities have been delivered or plan to be delivered by the end of 2017 with 258 participants. With positive comments including: “No one needs to be lonely or bored with life if they have some brain and mobility left particularly with help like yours about.” participant in the Arts for All Session “It makes us feel human being with other people on the same journey, who know exactly how we feel.” Participant in the Dorset Forest Schools Greenwood Club Work is continuing with Public Health Dorset and final tools for evaluating the programme, we are aiming for new year ‘launch’ of new feedback mechanisms. Stepping into Nature is now a component of the ‘prevention at scale’ programme supporting the delivery of ‘Our Dorset’: the sustainability and transformation plan for Dorset. A communication framework is underway highlighting where we can focus our efforts to engage with our audiences. We have contracted a designer to design/develop a look and brand for the project, these will be reviewed in November at a Service Users Review Group led by the Alzheimer’s Society. Roadshows to promote the project are planned for early 2018.
13 The ‘Stepping into Nature – Get involved’ event was organised and delivered in August with around 60 representatives from the Health & Wellbeing sector and received very positive. 385 people from different sectors have been engaged through events/talks & presentations including: • Care Navigators – team meeting • Lyme Regis U3A – presentation • Alzheimers Society – team meeting • Dorset Dementia Partnership – presentation • Wye Valley AONB Mindscape – requested speaker • Dorset’s Ageing Well Conference – display • Forum for Equality and Diversity in Dorset – presentation Dementia Awareness Training has been held for 20 activity deliverers. Claims are slightly behind our forecasts but we do not envisage any underspend at this moment in time. The Community Grant pot is now live and we have 7k in this year’s budget to help fund “dementia Friendly Greenspace” initiatives at a 70/30% match. More information can be found on the AONB website http://www.dorsetaonb.org.uk/our- work/health-and-wellbeing
4.18. Dorset Fingerposts The project continues to go from strength to strength, with good and reliable systems in place to make the process easier and sometime quicker! With over 500 posts being restored/restored across the County.
4.19. Jurassic Coast visitor management : People and Places Coastal Communities Fund Project (2017 – 2019) Fossil Forest access and interpretation • Remaining overhang from original 2015 rock-fall removed by specialists, Vertical Technologies • Proposal received from landscape architect, Aileen Shackell, to prepare concept designs and overall vision for the site • Engineers will be required to implement works • Access and safety make this a tricky site to work on– only open during school holidays and weekends; steep, unstable location • Consultation about the interpretation taken place with the community – with the hope that it can be reduced, rationalised and improved West Bay • Community consultation took place over the summer • Artist/ landscaper to be appointed to oversee all projects in West Bay • There is a need to co-ordinate interpretation messages and agree the ‘stories’ appropriate to each location, to avoid duplication and confusion to the user
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4.20. Jurassic Coast visitor management: Existing interpretation and landscaping improvement works Charmouth: completed July 2017
Evan’s Cliff, Charmouth: before improvement works
After: new orientation area with gabion seating
15 Hive Beach: completed August 2017
Before improvement works
After: looking from beach
Partners in planned improvement works at Seatown, especially with regard to interpretation and reduction of clutter (led by Simon Williams)
ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY
4.21. National Grid Visual Impact Provision Progress continues to be made on the project to underground over 8km high voltage electricity transmission lines between Corton and Winterbourne Abbas. The Team have received and reviewed the draft Landscape & Visual Impact Assessment, which will be submitted to West Dorset District Council as part of the Environmental Statement. A meeting of the local stakeholder group was held on 26 October. Overall, there was a good level of support for the project from the consultees in attendance. Further detailed discussion is taking place concerning the approach to addressing sensitivities, in particular the methodology for the archaeological assessment.
16 4.22. Other undergrounding In addition to the major undergrounding project proposed by the National Grid, the Team has also been working with the operators of the local distribution networks (SSE and Wester Power). The following projects are either being progressed or subject to discussions with landowners: • Loders – approx. 550m of network is currently being removed from the main village street. • Powerstock/West Milton – approx. 1.1 km of network has been undergrounded between these two villages • The Ulwell Gap – It is proposed that three parallel lines that each run for approx. 1.25 km will be undergrounded • Valley of Stones NNR – Subject to further discussion with landowners, it is proposed that the powerlines running through the National Nature Reserve will be removed and a new underground cable will be laid around the edge of the site.
4.23. Advocacy : The Dorset AONB contributed towards the South West Rural Productivity Commission, both in writing and at the Dorset panel hearing. The report and summary can be downloaded from the Heart of the South West LEP website: http://heartofswlep.co.uk/south-west-rural-commission-report/
4.24. Life Cycles and Landscapes: Delivery of this project progresses despite being turned down for match funds from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Majority funded by Arts Council England’s Ambition for Excellence programme, it will involve a celebratory arts event in the Dorset AONB as part of a series of events linking this area with the North Norfolk coast along the ancient Icknield Way. The preferred Dorset venue is Maiden Castle; the artists are examining feasibility and options with English Heritage and Historic England.
Outline budget 2018-2019
Item for: Decision
Report by: AONB Manager
Financial implications: This item covers all AONB finance for 2018-2019
Summary: In the 2015 Autumn Statement the Chancellor announced protected budgets for AONBs & National Parks. Defra’s commitment to the Dorset AONB for 2018-2019 is £239,896. Defra funds up to 75% core budget costs; additional Defra funds contributing to the Partnership’s projects and Sustainable Development Fund. This item outlines the proposed allocation of these funds and those from the AONB’s contributing Local Authorities.
Recommendation: The Board approves the proposed budget and funding priorities for next financial year
5.1. HM Treasury 2015 Autumn Statement The then Chancellor, George Osborne, announced budget protection for AONBs and National Parks. Defra’s interpretation of this is protection in real terms, with a commitment to providing Dorset AONB £235,840 in ’17-’18, £239,896 in ’18-’19 and £244,022 in ’19-’20.
5.2. AONB Budget structure & Defra guidance The AONB budget is split into 3 areas: core, the Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) and Projects. Funds from Defra, our majority funding partner, are provided according to the ‘single pot guidance’ as set out below. CORE: Core Functions are critical to the successful operation of AONB Partnerships.
17 Within core functions it is to be expected that staffing and associated overheads should merit particular protection. As set out in the Defra grant offer letter the grant offer includes a maximum contribution to core funding of 75% and is conditional on AONB Partnerships securing match funding of a further 25% of core funding from other sources. It is hoped and expected that Local Authority partner contributions to all Core Functions continue at a minimum of 25%, or even at the same levels that have previously been invested. Contributions from bodies other than local authority partners and/or earned income can be used to support core functions; this would release Defra-origin funds for other activity. Core Functions are defined in the Defra MoA and as such provide guidance on minimum standards to allow successful operation of an AONB unit and the delivery of the AONB Management Plan. SDF: The SDF was established as a Ministerial initiative and has political support. Defra believes the previous success of SDF will ensure its continuation in a meaningful way without the need to impose minimum levels of spending, which would go against the ethos of an interdependent and trusting relationship with AONB Partnerships. Individual SDF initiatives will be identified as part of an AONB’s programme of work. SDF will remain as a visible funding stream in the AONB family and should continue to be recorded and good practice registered to inform Defra and key partners. There are opportunities to use SDF to add value by encouraging greater uptake of innovative, often community-based, projects. The SDF programme has associated guidance prepared by Natural England which steers the kinds of projects to be developed. This guidance was revised in 2009 to place greater emphasis on encouraging innovation and risk-taking, as well as meeting AONB Management Plan objectives. These risk and innovation elements help clarify the distinction between SDF and other funding streams. Innovative SDF projects should be assessed from local, regional and national perspectives. We make SDF available to projects through a competitive process. PROJECTS: AONB Partnerships are free to determine how they use resources to deliver projects. If 100% AONB project funding is the only way to achieve the desired outcome, this is for the Partnerships to decide in developing their programme. Defra believes that delivery of AONB Management Plan objectives is generally greater and more sustainable if undertaken in partnership, particularly for large scale or landscape scale projects. It therefore encourages all AONB Partnerships to use their project funding to help lever in additional resources. The ability and willingness of partners to contribute to projects will be variable from partner to partner and from year to year. It is recognised that staffing costs can be met by project funding.
5.3. INCOME FORECAST The Dorset AONB’s Local Authorities are intending to maintain their contributions through the current ‘statement of intent’ (abbreviated to SoI in the table below). Total “single pot” income via the Local Authorities & Defra: Source 2018-2019 Defra TOTAL£ 239,896 Local Authorities through SoI£ 54,490 Earned income£ 4,010 TOTAL£ 298,396 The team has confidence it can meet the income target from management charges on established projects and those currently unconfirmed.
5.4. COSTS Efforts continue to ‘projectise’ a reasonable proportion of the team’s overheads depending on any restrictions imposed by the funding body: all projects make a contribution towards accommodation at a minimum. Maximum core costs are 4 times the non-Defra income: £234,001; our projected costs are less.
18 Cost heading 2018-2019 Core staff, travel & training £ 214,396 Accommodation & office equipment £ 7,000 Partnership running costs £ 3,000 Communication, outreach etc, inc forum £ 5,000 Monitoring research & guidance £ 2,000 CORE TOTAL£ 231,396 SDF £ 25,000 5.5. PROJECTS & SDF The difference between the projected core costs and total single pot income is £67,000. Increasing SDF to around £25,000 leaves £42,000 to be invested in the following projects: Dorset Food & Drink South Dorset Ridgeway LPS Stepping Into Nature Dorset Fingerposts / Rural Roads Woodlink Management Plan review Project development for the Marshwood Vale
We are budgeting for the following projects which have no requirement for a contribution from the AONB Partnership: Wytch Farm Landscape Enhancement, Landscape Enhancement Initiative projects for the Marshwood Vale and the South Dorset Ridgeway, Dorset Low Carbon Economy programme and Visitor Management for the Jurassic Coast.
We are currently projecting a total budget (core, SDF & projects) of around £1.5M.
AONB Management Plan Review - consultation
Item for: Decision
Report by: AONB Manager
Financial implications: Up to £10k from the AONB single pot is proposed to be made available for Management Plan review, to cover costs related to consultation and publication. More broadly, the AONB Management Plan will outline the vision, objectives, policies and priorities for future investment by the AONB Partnership.
Summary: Production of an AONB Management Plan is a statutory requirement through the Countryside & Rights of Way Act 2000. The current plan expires in April 2019.
Recommendation: The Board approves a) Formal notification of Natural England of our intention to review the plan b) The statement of stakeholder engagement
6.1. The review process and broad outline is as approved at the AONB Board meeting in May 2017. The timetable also remains unchanged:
19 2017 2018 2019 Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr Announce intention to review 1 Statement of Community Involvement 1 SEA: announce requirement 1 SEA: set context 1 Expediency consultation 1 Expert review groups 1 1 1 Annual Forum 1 Focussed community engagement 1 1 Drafting MP & SEA 1 1 Draft to review group 1 Draft to PB 1 Amendments as necessary 1 1 Review group sign-off 1 Formal consultation 1 1 1 Consultation review process 1 Final draft to review group 1 Final draft to PB 1 Final publication 1 Adoption by LAs 1 1 1 Submit to SoS 1 Promote 1 1
SEA = strategic environmental assessment LCA = landscape character assessment
6.2. The formal review process starts officially when the AONB Chairman announces the AONB Partnership’s intention to review the plan by letter to Natural England. This letter will outline the principles agreed at the last Board meeting, specifically: A ‘light-touch’ approach Maximise the opportunity to raise awareness and engage a wider audience in AONB action planning Minimise cost; if it can be brought in under budget it shall be to divert funds to direct delivery Seek national consistency, particularly in the introductory sections outlining the legal framework for AONB designation. Incorporate Natural Capital concepts and terminology Separate the action plan from the policy framework, removing it from the formal plan
6.3. Draft Statement of Stakeholder Engagement
1. The Dorset AONB Management Plan Review • The Dorset AONB Partnership is undertaking a formal review of the statutory Dorset AONB Management Plan. Once adopted by local authorities, this Plan sets out the policies and priority actions for the Dorset AONB from 2019 - 2024. It is essential that local and individual perspectives are considered and incorporated into the Management Plan and that people living and working in the AONB have a real opportunity to be involved in the decision-making process. We believe that getting a diverse range of views will make the final Management Plan a stronger, more relevant document and is a real opportunity to raise awareness and foster engagement in the implementation.
2. Stage 1: Reviewing the current Dorset AONB Management Plan • The starting point for developing the new Management Plan is to review the existing plan, using the knowledge of key stakeholders. Expert review groups will be held January – March 2018 for each of the management plan chapters, either through one-off meetings or views sought by email, enabling
20 organisations with specialist interest and knowledge to help shape these chapters. A list of those involved in the stage is listed at the end of this document. • An Annual Forum for Parish & Town Councils, Neighbourhood Planning Groups, community partnerships and community groups will be held in March 2018. This will review the existing management Plan, drawing out key issues and opportunities that local communities face while living and working in the Dorset AONB. • Additional meetings will be held to target key stakeholders who aren’t included in the above e.g. business community and young people.
3. Stage 2: Drafting the new Management Plan • Dorset AONB Team members will draft the new Management Plan based on material gathered in Stage 1 as well as the SEA and the LCA. • Dorset AONB Partnership Board and Steering Group will have the opportunity to shape the Plan and a special Partnership Board meeting in July 2018 to focus on the draft Management Plan. • Elected members will be given the chance to input before public consultation begins, through presentations to individual authorities.
4. Stage 3: Formal Consultation period The formal consultation period of 12 weeks (1st September – 10 th November) is the opportunity to gather views from a wide range of people who live and work in the Dorset AONB. Input at this stage will be formally acknowledged and considered.
Available to all The draft Management Plan will be freely available in both print and electronic format to anyone who wants to read it. Electronic copies (PDFs of each section) will be available on the Dorset AONB website. Print copies will be available in libraries and council offices and both print and electronic versions will be available on request to the Dorset AONB office. We will also make the draft Management Plan available in other languages and formats on request.
Targeted distribution We have identified specific stakeholders – both individuals and organisations – who we want to receive the draft Management Plan directly from us. These are:
Partnership Board members Email letter with webpage link (print copies available on request)
All statutory consultees Emai l letter with webpage link Local Authority elected members Email letter with webpage link via Committee Secretaries Print version in members’ rooms Local Authority Heads of Dept and Email letter with webpage link specialist officers Special interest / Dorset AONB wide Email letter to highlight possible interest and action and webpage link organisations E-News alert with webpage link
Parish & Town Councils Email letter with webpage link Alert and article in D&PTC e-newsletter Community Partnerships Email letter with webpage link Offer to attend Area Partnership meetings in September / October Local community planning groups Email alert to those we have worked with over AONB issues and inclusion in DCA news Wider public E-news and follow up alert t o our database of 6000 local people and visitors Articles to local and county wide media.
21 Social media to highlight key issues Promotion at events Specific audiences Targeted promotion may be used for specific issues if opportunities arise
Open door policy We would like to talk with people who have significant concerns or ideas about material within the draft Management Plan during the consultation period, so that written responses are as considered and informed as possible. We will invite people to contact the Dorset AONB Team anytime during the consultation period and make an arrangement to meet if required.
5. Stage 4: Consultation responses and finalising the Management Plan The consultation period ends on 10 th November 2018 at 11.59pm and all responses must be emailed or sent to the Dorset AONB Team. When reviewing the responses from the formal consultation period all respondents will be treated equally, weight given to comments to reflect the relevance to the management plan and the statutory purposes of the AONB designation. All comments will be considered in the context of the national AONB Management Plan guidance and the statutory purposes of the AONB designation.
A report summarising all comments and responses to them will be produced and available on the Dorset AONB website in early November 2018. This Report will be considered by the Dorset AONB Partnership Board in November 2018 and the final Management Plan agreed.
The final version of the Dorset AONB Management Plan will be adopted by local authorities between December 2018 and March 2019 and must be submitted to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) by the end March 2019. The final plan will be available on the Dorset AONB website by April 2019.
22 Arne Moors
Item for: Information
Report by: Neil Watson, Environment Agency
Financial implications: None for the AONB Partnership.
Background:
The Environment Agency, RSPB and Natural England are working together to adapt approximately 150 hectares of the Moors at Arne into a diverse wetland habitat. With the sea level rising, important habitat for wildlife along the coast will be lost over the next 30 years. This “coastal squeeze”, where rising waters press against essential fixed sea defences, will mean a loss of inter-tidal features such as mudflats, salt marsh and reedbeds. New places for coastal wildlife will need to be created. The Environment Agency has a legal obligation to provide compensatory habitat to mitigate for losses to conservation sites caused by sea level rise in the Poole Wareham area resulting from our flood risk management activities. In Poole Harbour, the partners are working together to explore how The Moors at Arne can be converted to inter-tidal habitat to compensate for the losses. This project offers potential to make this site more resilient for sea level rise in the future and to manage the changes as naturally as possible, while protecting vital infrastructure such as Arne Road. When finished, the coastal change project will enable the Environment Agency and its partners to continue to protect properties around Poole Harbour from the increased risk of flooding due to climate change. It is predicted up to 10,000 local properties could be at risk within 100 years. The partnership of the three organisations will maximise the benefits for both local people and wildlife and will involve the community as the scheme evolves.
Dorset Food & Drink CIC
Item for: Information
Report by: David Collins, Director
Financial implications: It is likely that AONB Partnership funds will support the transition of operation from the AONB Partnership itself (hosted by DCC) to the Community Interest Company. The Dorset AONB team also hosts the Dorset Food & Drink project officer post, which is to be seconded to the new CIC. The CIC’s Board is developing a business plan and relevant opportunities to triple its current income base and become entirely self-funding. Background:
Dorset Food & Drink established in 2013 as a project of the Dorset AONB Partnership’s, building on the team’s experience of managing Direct from Dorset. It exists to promote, nurture and create opportunities for the local food and drink sector. In January 2017, a company limited by guarantee was incorporated (Dorset Food & Drink Community Interest Company) to take over the operation enabling it to commercialise and capitalise on its private sector, not-for- profit structure. 9 directors were recruited over the summer bringing a vast range of skills, experience and contacts to the table. It is intended that the company make an operating surplus in future years; in its founding documents there is provision for bursaries to be made for encouraging new entrants into the sector and helping to train them, alongside grants for the conservation and enhancement of the county’s natural beauty.
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