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 2016 Dear Board Member Dorset AONB Partnership Board Meeting, 10.00am, Thurs 24th November 2016 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 (£4 all day). There is limited parking on- site (use DT1 2RZ for SatNav to take you onto Sawmills La; the building is the first on the left having turned off Weymouth Ave). The meeting will start at 10.00 am (refreshments from 9.45am). If you are unable to attend it would be helpful if you could send a briefed representative. Please confirm attendance to Katharine Wright on 01305 228239 or [email protected] AGENDA Welcome, introductions and apologies 1 Minutes of the last meeting and matters arising 2 Board member ambassadorship & AONB-related updates 3 Delivering the AONB Management Plan [information] 4 National Grid Visual Impact Provision [information] 5 Low Carbon Dorset (ESIF) programme [information] 6 Outline budget 2015-2016 [decision] 7 Proposed dates of next meetings: Partnership Board 2017: 25th May & 16 th November Steering Group 2017: 25 th April & 17 th October 1 © Crown Copyright 201 5 OS licence number: 100019790. 2 Minutes of the last Partnership Board meeting (21 st May, Weymouth Ave Pavilion, Dorchester) Present : Chairman : Jim White (also Dorset LNP) Local Authority Members : Cllr Audrey Burch (North Dorset District Council), Cllr Peter Webb (Purbeck District Council), Cllr Hilary Cox (Dorset County Council) Sector representatives : Helen Mann (National Trust), Janet Page (Dorset Association of Town and Parish Councils), Brian Bleese (Purbeck Heritage Network), Roderick Knight (Dorset Cultural Partnership), Rupert Best (CLA), Alison Moore (Dorset LEP) Local Authority officers : Hilary Jordan (WDDC, WPBC & NDDC), Alison Turnock (PDC), Phil Sterling (DCC) Defra family officers : Matt Low (Natural England), Ben Rayner (Environment Agency), DAONB Team : Tom Munro (Manager), Ian Rees (Countryside Officer), Julie Turner (AONB Project Officer), Katharine Wright (Dorset Food & Drink Coordinator), Sue Dampney (Communications Officer), Richard Brown (Landscape Planning Officer), Jill Hearing (South Dorset Ridgeway Project Officer), Marie McLeish (South Dorset Ridgeway Learning Officer), James Sharpe (SDR Project Manager) Apologies: Sally King (Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site), Cllr Matthew Hall (WDDC) ITEM 1: Welcome & minutes of the last Partnership Board meeting Minutes of the last meeting were agreed as correct, with matters arising covered on the agenda. ITEM 2: Short Updates from Board members re AONB opportunities/issues Dorset Cultural Partnership: will come to an end on 27 June; 5 year Cultural Strategy was launched recently and will continue under the auspices of Dorset Arts Trust. RK will remain on AONB Board representing the cultural sector in his role as Trustee of Dorset County Museum. Strategy available at http://www.theartsdevelopmentcompany.org.uk/59/dorset+cultural+strategy+2016-2021 DCC : PS reiterated what a pleasure it was to oversee the AONB team; he also spoke of the closer working between the AONB Team & the Jurassic Coast Team during their hosting transition phase, particularly with relation to the Visitor Management / Access, Recreation & Transport roles. WDCC, ND, W&P : NDDC Local Plan has been adopted (Local Plan coverage now complete); however it needs to be reviewed immediately due to housing numbers. WDDC and W&PBC Joint Local Plan currently under review, with focus on promoting tourism; some concerns that budget savings will follow but very aware of DAONB/DEFRA financial contribution. All engaged in discussions re Dorset local government reorganisation. PDC: partial review of current Local Plan will be on dorsetforyou shortly. Consultation agreed from 9 June for 9 weeks; required housing numbers very high with potential impact on AONB. Local Plan to be approved by end 2017. PHN: Draft strategy, reflecting AONB aims, out for final round consultation, for approval Nov 16. CLA: RB spoke of future infrastructure needs for rural business; made a plea for ‘imagination’ in responses to development proposals of that nature. Dorset LEP: AM reappointed to Board for 3yrs; Growth Deal 3 to Ministerial challenge mid-June, final applications due early July, & decisions re funding in autumn. Destination management funding ending this year. NE: Team geography re-aligning with EA regions (Dorset, Somerset & Avon grouped); an NE delivery plan in progress with a likely focus on Dorset Heaths, South Purbeck & the coast from Studland to Lyme Regis as priorities. DATPC: training for new councillors is ongoing, 1 year in. 3 NT : NT’s Landscape, Outdoors & Nature (LON) strategy focuses on making NT estate work for nature; changes will be implemented with tenants as well as in-hand land. Collaborating with AONB on Hardy Country & Hillforts projects and further joint working under discussion. Also working on SW Coast strategy and Purbeck heath re- wilding. Katharine’s work on the Springtide Festival was much appreciated and made it a great success. EA: Winfrith Magnox restoration due for completion by 2023 leading to fully reverted heathland through fast- tracking new habitat communities; Regional Flood & Coastal Committee to fund a pilot based around Hooke trialling natural flood management techniques (£100k over 5 yrs) with aspiration to incorporate conservation, river restoration, etc. RPSB Arne Moors: looking to open up to sea providing coastal habitat to help prevent coastal squeeze: EA funding secured for half site but seeking match funding for remainder; is a protected habitat so looking for potential sites for compensatory habitat provision. Dorset LNP: Environment Economy study involved close collaboration between AONB & LNP and was main focus for annual forum; LNP Health & Wellbeing position statement makes reference to Stepping into Nature project. ITEM 3: Delivery of the AONB Management Plan TM delivered the Manager’s report with the following updates: • South Dorset Local Action Group now up and running; • NAAONB and Activate Performing Arts Stage 1 ACE bid was successful • Stunning photographs of the AONB can be found at: http://gigapan.com/profiles/Dorset_AONB • Dorset Food & Drink Steering Group recommending move to become independent CIC so as to access grants not available to public sector • Woodlink: AONB Team will continue to support the Community Woodland groups. The board approved and noted with thanks progress in delivering the management plan. ITEM 4: Dorset Local Authorities’ governance review (Report by AONB Steering Group Local Authority Officers: Phil Sterling & Hilary Jordan) PS: Current model under review is for 2 unitary councils (B&P, Rural Dorset) with Christchurch joining one or other. Public consultation underway until Nov 16. HC : sits on DCC’s Shaping Dorset’s Future Board and chairs Service Delivery Working Group, both of which are inviting contributions from all councils re Combined Authorities proposals: this would involve a small joint core staff with limited functions centred on strategic economic development and transport; and would cover total area reflecting coverage of LEP funding; Combined Authorities bid is to central Government and separate to LA governance review. PS : in interim, DCC recognises the need to work closely with DCs re shared services, eg arboriculture, to make the most of the opportunities for synergy & savings. PW: expressed concern that Town & Parish Councils may have to take on more functions for which they currently do not have capacity, without additional resources. HC: in response to query from HM, the National Park proposal is on a different timeline and decision-making track so is not yet being formally considered by the local authorities. ITEM 5: National Grid Visual Impact Provision Presentation by Ian McKenna, National Grid VIP senior team member with responsibility for stakeholder land & consent . National Grid has agreed with OFGEM a fund of £500m to address impacts of high-voltage lines on protected landscapes. A 7km section of line crossing the South Dorset Ridgeway from Corton to Winterbourne Abbas has been selected as one of only 3 to be taken forward for undergrounding (a 4 th section will be re-routed); these sections total 14km (so DAONB section is 50%) out of total 571km network. Work has progressed significantly on pre-application survey, route choice and impact assessments. The National Grid VIP team been undertaking site surveys and plotting a preferred route, taking into account biodiversity and heritage interest features, and approximate preferred locations for the two sealing end compounds have been assessed and agreed in principle with the AONB team. Two Public information events are scheduled for late June for the communities affected, covering both weekday and weekend. Feasibility work will take place during summer 2016, with planning applications being drawn up mid-2017 and construction scheduled for mid-2018. Construction will involve a 4 swathe up to 60m wide with trenches for cables of 1m-1.5m deep (ie below deep ploughing depth ). PS advised early discussion with DCC/NE re efficient approach to assessing ecological impact, which IMcK confirmed is already underway. Directional