AGENDA ITEM 3 MID AND WEST BERKSHIRE LOCAL ACCESS FORUM MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE FORUM HELD IN THE KENNET ROOM AT THE CIVIC CENTRE, READING, ON WEDNESDAY 19 JANUARY 2011, COMMENCING AT 2.00 PM AND CONCLUDED AT 5.10 PM Present: A Lawson (Chairman), Councillor Dr T Vickers (Vice-Chairman), Dr J C Bridger, Mr D A W Gardiner DL, Mr B Lambert, Mr C N B Marriage, Mr R O’Neill, Mr R R Sharp, Mrs D M Smith, Mr G V Smith, Mr P D G Todd, Ms S Wallington. In Attendance: Ms E Baker (Reading Borough Council), Ms E Cox (West Berkshire Council), R F Penfold (Secretary), Mr D Sussex (Natural England), Ms E Tweed (Wokingham Borough Council). Apologies for Absence: Mr S Brook, Mr N Channer, Ms S Ellison, Mr J R Goddard, Councillor S Weeks. 1 member of the public was present. 50 SITE VISIT Prior to the meeting, some Members walked, via the public path network, from the Civic Offices, Reading to the Kennet Meadows and back, led by the Chairman. 51 MINUTES The Minutes of the meeting of the Forum held on 29 September 2010 were approved. 4 52 MATTERS ARISING ON THE MINUTES 29/7 Public Participation – Footpath Level Crossings Ms E Cox (West Berkshire Council) and Ms E Tweed (Wokingham Borough Council) reported orally about the conditions at the footpath level crossings in their councils’ areas. Although there was a boarded walk between the rails at both of the crossings in the area of Wokingham Borough Council, there were a variety of circumstances to the crossings in West Berkshire, some of which required remedial action by Network Rail. Members urged the Council to pursue matters with the Company, where required. Ms Cox undertook to circulate a written report, with photographs, of the crossings in the West Berkshire Council area to Members of the Forum. 36/11 Wokingham ROWIP Working Group The Secretary circulated the following response from the Head of Neighbourhoods at Wokingham Borough Council: “With reference to your letter of 12 October 2010, please find below a progress report for 2010 for Wokingham Borough Council’s Rights Of Way Improvement Plan, listed by numbers from the Statement of Action: 1.2 To improve public rights of way network information • The interactive map on the Wokingham Borough Council website has been updated. 2.1 To develop a better joined-up PROW network • We have received over £11,000 in Section 106 payments towards countryside access improvements. • £9309 contribution towards countryside access improvements secured from Bridge House Nursing Home, Twyford. • Ongoing work with Strategic Development Location planning groups to secure countryside access improvements. • The creation of a new bridleway, improved footpath surfacing, and byway surfacing at new Wokingham Cricket Ground, Sadlers End, Sindlesham. • A new footpath agreed near to the Emmbrook at Molly Millars Lane, subject to development proceeding. • Land to be ceded for a new public right of way created at Park Place, Remenham. 5 3.1 Encourage use of sustainable transport to work / school • Working with a local volunteer group and Reading University in Shinfield to improve surfacing on a well-used path and also to allow cycling access. Funded through S.106 money. 3.3 Reduce conflict between users • Use of seasonal Traffic Regulation Orders to prevent vehicle access on byways prone to damage in winter. • Installation of extra signage on a number of rights of way indicating which users may use the right of way. 4.3 Create and implement a gap, gate, stile policy • Actively, working with parish councils to replace stiles with gates where possible. 5.3 Create a record of path furniture • Ongoing records kept. Working with landowners at Culham Court, Remenham where new fencing and consequently new gates were planned, to ensure correct specifications were met and gates were only installed where absolutely necessary. 5.4 Manage enforcement issues effectively • Proactive in resolving enforcement issues such as encroachment and ploughing/cropping. All reported encroachment issues (2009/10) have currently been resolved and regular ploughing/cropping offenders are monitored closely with assistance from the Ramblers Association. 5.5 Reduce illegal use of paths • Working with the police, Parish Councils and WBC Waste Services to consider Gating Orders for public rights of way prone to fly-tipping such as burnt out cars and anti-social behaviour. 6.1 Obtain funding from developers & grant bodies to improve countryside access • See 2.1 above 6.2 Ensure development does not result in dead-end or extinguished paths • Criteria for when the Rights of Way Officer needs to be consulted on planning applications have been clarified. • All planning consultations received are responded to, either with standard informatives or specific requirements. 6.3 Ensure development does not adversely affect existing PROWs • Working closely with planners to ensure that any issues during the course of a development are resolved promptly.” 6 Members noted the response. 42 Reductions in Public Expenditure The Forum noted a letter from Wokingham Borough Council, in response to the Forum’s letter about reductions in public expenditure, and a copy letter, circulated at the meeting, from West Berkshire Council to parish councils in its area, about encouraging the parish councils to work cooperatively with the Council on Rights of Way matters. 53 MEMBERS’ INTERESTS The Forum was reminded of the provisions of Regulation 6(8) of the Local Access Forums (England) Regulations 2007 concerning disclosure of interests. Members declared interests as follows: Item Subject Interest 9 Higher Level Stewardship Mr P D G Todd, as participant, or agent of participant, in a stewardship scheme. 13 Management of Commons Mr D A W Gardiner, as owner of Wokefield Common. 54 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION The Forum received a report by the Secretary reminding it of its decisions, at its first meeting, regarding public participation at meetings. No questions had been received prior to the meeting from members of the public. NOTED 55 MEMBERSHIP OF THE FORUM The Forum received a report by the Secretary advising it of its membership, and about its part reconstitution, with effect from 1 May 2011. 7 The Forum was reminded that, at the reconstitution due on 30 April 2010, 4 existing Members of the Forum had expressed an interest in serving for a further term and 2 new applications had been received by the relevant closing date. The Councils had appointed the 6 persons as non-local authority members of the Forum until 30 April 2013. Details of the Members are listed in Appendix 1 hereto. The Chairman welcomed the new Members, Mr B Lambert and Mr G V Smith. The report also referred to the arrangements made by the 3 councils to appoint persons to serve as non-local authority members of the Forum, for the period 1 May 2011 to 30 April 2014, in succession to the existing Members due to retire in 2011. NOTED 56 CROSS BOUNDARY LIAISON The Forum was reminded that, in accordance with the Guidance given by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for Local Access Forums, it had nominated persons to attend, as observers, meetings of the neighbouring local access fora. Dr J C Bridger circulated, at the meeting, a written report on a meeting of the Hampshire Countryside Access Forum , held on 21 October 2010, when that forum had discussed: • Forestry Commission charges for equestrians; • Gating Order consultations; • Countryside Access Plan Working Groups; • review of Level Crossing legislation; • consultation on the Natural Environment White Paper; • a review of the Countryside Service volunteers; • providing access to Hampshire’s Heritage Project; • an update on Path Watch; • Countryside Recreation Network/Green Grid. Mr R O’Neill reported orally on a meeting of the Oxfordshire Countryside Access Forum held on 30 November 2010, when there had been discussion on improving the website provided by the County Council, interactive reporting of Rights of Way issues via the County Council’s website, the Oxfordshire ROWIP Delivery Plan, the County Council’s Guide to Working with Parishes and an circular walk around Oxford. 8 Mr R R Sharp spoke to a report, circulated with the agenda for the meeting, about the meeting of the Windsor & Maidenhead Local Access Forum held on 30 November 2010. Mrs D M Smith reported that there had been no meeting of the Bracknell Forest Countryside Local Access Forum since the last meeting of this Forum. Councillor Dr T Vickers, acknowledging that he had been unable yet to attend a meeting of the Wiltshire & Swindon Countryside Access Forum , reported orally on that forum’s meeting on 3 November 2010, when there had been discussions about commons in Wiltshire, the local authority’s budget position, the lack of legal support for rights of way officers and the Forum’s response to the Local Transport Plan. RESOLVED: That the reports of Dr J C Bridger, Mr R O’Neill, Mr R R Sharp and Councillor Dr T Vickers be noted. 57 WORKING GROUPS The convenors of working groups reported about those groups. Councillor Dr T Vickers advised that the Education & Communications’ Working Group had met to discuss the community engagement event (see Minute 60). Mr C N B Marriage reported that the Development of New Access & Maintenance of Existing Rights of Way Working Group had met in October 2010. The Working Group was interested in promoting a new bridle path in Chieveley, and was having further discussions with the West Berkshire Council about that. The Working Group wanted to be associated with a project which was deliverable. Ms E Tweed (Wokingham BC) referred to her Council’s response to the Working Group’s earlier enquiry.