AGENDA AGENDA ITEM ITEM SOUTH HAMS DISTRICT COUNCIL 9 9

NAME OF COMMITTEE Executive

DATE 6 December 2012

REPORT TITLE Langage Landscape Fund

REPORT OF Natural Environment and Recreation Manager Ross Kennerley

WARDS AFFECTED Western South Hams

Summary of report: The Langage Landscape Fund has been created to support projects that mitigate the visual impact of the Langage , address climate change and support community projects in areas affected by the power station. This report seeks member’s authorisation to target the funding on community and landscape projects.

Financial implications:

Expenditure is within the section 106 funds held in the Langage Landscape Fund and is proposed to be spent on projects within the terms of the section 106 agreement.

RECOMMENDATIONS: That Executive agrees

1. to release up to £250,000 towards community landscape projects in accordance with the requirements of the Langage s.106 and details as set out in paragraph 2.1 2. to allocate up to £200,000 towards a proposed £3 million Heritage Lottery Fund bid for access, landscape and environmental improvements within the Plym Valley and 3. to note the new management arrangements for the Green Infrastructure Partnership subject to existing funding from the Langage Landscape Fund.

Officer contact: Ross Kennerley. Natural Environment and Recreation Manager [email protected] 01803 861379

1. BACKGROUND

1.1 At the time of consent it was recognised that the Langage Energy Centre would have a significant visual impact over a wide area. Whilst mass screening of the power station was impractical (and arguably undesirable) it was recognised that targetted landscape schemes would assist in mitigating the impact from key view points and on communities affected by the power station. A contribution of £1million was made to create the Langage Landscape Fund by .

1.2 The primary objectives of the fund are

• To reduce landscape and visual impact of the power station • To undertake planting and landscape works which address climate change • To support landscape and planting schemes involving local communities in areas affected by the development • To ameliorate the impact of development on views from publicly accessible locations.

1.3 The fund is managed by the Natural Environment and Recreation Team and at the point at which construction commenced on the energy centre a partnership was established with the Woodland Trust to undertake a “MOREwoods” project in the western area of the South Hams. (minute E08/09). A nominal 10km circle was drawn around the Energy Centre and landowners were invited to put forward schemes which would assist in screening the power station and, where appropriate, provide access or projects of community benefit. This scheme ran between 2008/2009 and 2011/2012 and a total of 70,000 trees covering 48 hectares were planted on 45 sites. The scheme had successful uptake but by the third year it was clear that there was a saturation of private landowners looking to come into the scheme. This was undoubtedly influenced by other potential uses for land in the Plymouth Fringe and the general economic climate.

1.3 In 2011/2012 SHDC, in conjunction with PCC, piloted an alternative and additional approach concentrating on community projects within the 10km circle. This was launched as the Big Greenspace Challenge . In 2011/2012 this brought forward 17 projects on community owned or accessed land in the western South Hams and Plymouth area.

1.4 Taking into account expenditure to date the Langage fund currently holds an estimated £743,082

2. MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION

2.1 Big Greenspace Challenge

To stimulate community interest the fund has been piloted as the “Big Greenspace Challenge” to see what appetite communities have to bid for projects up to £20,000 in value to create or improve their local greenspace. The scheme has been promoted throughout the summer and officers are now in receipt of 35 project proposals which are felt to have merit and meet the requirements of the Langage Landscape Fund. It is proposed that these are turned into a delivery programme for 2012/2013 – 2013/2014. Proposals are assessed on the criteria set out in the section 106 but with a particular slant on supporting community projects within the area affected by the development. It is proposed that up to £250,000 be allocated towards projects during this period with delivery being through direct SHDC or PCC procurement (given that many sites lie on Council owned land) and through direct support to the Woodland Trust and The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) or other community support groups when necessary given their direct involvement in community development and project delivery. Wherever practicable match, or additional funding, will look to be secured. Project grants will cover

• Material costs • Project development, design and community support (to a maximum of 15% of project costs) • On going maintenance for 3 years • Funding for the groups to become affiliated to TCV as local community groups (to give enduring support to community group structures) • Landowners must commit to a 10 year retention of the trees and the project.

If significant opportunities for private landowner projects emerge during this period they will still be considered using the previous MOREwoods criteria and conditions.

2.2. Plym Valley Heritage Lottery Bid

Officers, in conjunction with National Trust, Woodland Trust, Forestry Commission and Plymouth City Council have approached the Heritage Lottery Fund to promote a major landscape and access improvement scheme through the Plym Valley. The majority of the land involved lies within South Hams District Council area with parts of the lower Plym valley falling within the area already covered by the Langage Landscape Fund. Heritage Lottery Fund have indicated a willingness to consider an application for up to £3million towards this project and PCC, with an interest in managing and improving access within and around the Plymouth Fringe, has agreed to lead and manage the bid. HLF wish to see match funding and it is proposed that up to £200,000 of the Langage Landscape Fund be nominally allocated toward the match funding (subject, of course, to it being spent on projects that fall within the geographic area and terms of reference for the Langage landscape fund – see para 1.2 above). Executive is asked to approve allocation of funds toward development of such a bid.

2.3 Plymouth Green Infrastructure Partnership

SHDC along with Natural , Plymouth City Council, Forestry Commission and National Trust are members of the Plymouth Green Infrastructure Partnership. The partners have an adopted plan and have had an officer employed through Natural England to develop and deliver a wide range of projects over the last 3 years (with the evolving HLF bid above being an example). One of the main areas of work for the officer has been developing opportunities to increase the impact of the Langage Landscape Scheme and to look to draw in match funds. This has successfully brought in Forestry Commission funds to support the planting to date and has identified the HLF opportunity highlighted above where the Langage fund could provide significant financial leverage. The employment of the Officer has been part funded by agreed Langage Landscape Funding including £10,000 in 2012/13, £5,000 in 2013/14 and £1,000 in 2014/15. These funds have previously been agreed (E51/10) but members should note that the current arrangement with an officer employed by Natural England is proposed to transfer to a PCC employee within the new PCC Green Infrastructure Team. SHDC requirements in terms of the outcomes from the funding, the partnership and the Green Infrastructure Plan would be protected through this change so members are asked to note that the existing funding is to be spent in this manner through an amended Memorandum of Agreement.

3. LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

3.1 The Langage s.106 establishes the Langage Landscape Fund and the powers and parameters under which the fund operates. It is important that all expenditure accords with the terms of the s.106.

4. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

4.1 The fund currently stands at £743,082 and the proposed release of funds set out in this report falls within the available funds.

4.2 The specialist nature of the community projects makes it appropriate to work with other councils and community support organisations on delivery of the projects.

5. SUMMARY

The Langage Landscape Fund has offered significant opportunity for landscape projects in the west of the district and these are maximised and increased through working in partnership with others. Agreement is sought to target funds at community projects under the terms of the s.106 and to allocate funds to try and draw in major national funds.

6 RISK MANAGEMENT

6.1 The risk management implications are set out below

7. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

Corporate priorities Conservation of the Built and natural Environment engaged: Statutory powers: Town and country Planning Act 1990 Considerations of Projects will promote access for all wherever equality and human practicable and reasonable rights: Biodiversity Biodiversity enhancement will be an element of considerations: schemes wherever practicable Sustainability Sustainability will be incorporated in design and considerations: management of projects Crime and disorder Design will aim to support safe and accessible implications: public spaces Background papers: Langage s.106 agreement Big Greenspace Challenge Promotion Plymouth Green Infrastructure Plan Background HLF papers

Appendices None attached:

STRATEGIC RISKS TEMPLATE

Inherent risk status No Risk Title Risk/Opportunity Impact of Chance Risk Mitigating & Management actions Ownership Description negative of score and outcome negative direction outcome of travel Ensure That spending accords with 3 2 6 ˜˜˜ Ensure all projects are screened RK appropriate conditions in s.106 against s.106 clauses 1 spend within s.106 Complete consultation with Centrica over delivery proposals Appropriate That partner and project 3 1 3 ˜˜˜ Establish appropriate mechanisms in RK procurement spend is appropriately relation to financial regulations 2 and work with authorized and accounted partners