ITEM 2 EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY EXMOOR CONSULTATIVE AND PARISH FORUM MINUTES of the meeting of the Exmoor Consultative and Parish Forum held on Thursday 19 November 2015 at 10.30am at Exmoor House, Dulverton. PRESENT Steven Pugsley Exmoor National Park Authority and Chairman of the Forum John Addicott Beagles Richard Andrews Natural England John Anson Cutcombe Parish Council Ron Buckingham Elworthy Parish Council Liz Bulled North Molton Parish Council Kevin Connell Winsford Parish Council Sarah Cookson Brushford Parish Council Ian Cowling Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Trust Martin Dewdney Exmoor National Park Authority and West Somerset Council Richard Edgell Exmoor National Park Authority and Devon County Council John Edwards Invitee Mike Ellicott Exmoor National Park Authority and Exford Parish Council Roger Foxwell Wheddon Cross Molly Groves Exmoor Uprising Michael Hankin Exmoor Natural History Society and Exmoor Society Bruce Heywood Exmoor National Park Authority and West Somerset Council Ivor Jones Exmoor National Park Authority and West Somerset Council Graham Lamacraft Dunster Parish Council Susan May Exmoor Trust Mel Mileham Winsford Parish Council Robin Milton Exmoor National Park Authority Ron Morrison-Smith Invitee Frances Nicholson Exmoor National Park Authority and Somerset County Council Sir Richard Peek Exmoor National Park Authority and North Molton Parish Council Fred Rawle Exton Parish Council Alastair Rodway Lynton and Lynmouth Town Council Rachel Thomas Exmoor Society Nick Thwaites Dulverton Town Council and West Somerset Council Penny Webber Exmoor National Park Authority and Selworthy & Minehead Without Parish Council Vivian White Exmoor National Park Authority and Cutcombe Parish Council John Wibberley Exmoor National Park Authority Pat Williams Withypool & Hawkridge Parish Council James Wilmoth Wootton Courtenay Parish Council Tom Yandle Badgworthy Land Company 1. Apologies for absence were received from: Keith Branfield Withypool & Hawkridge Parish Council Louise Crossman Invitee John Dallyn Martinhoe Parish Meeting Simon Derby Invitee Bernard Dru Invitee Lady Gass Invitee 1 Suzette Hibbert Lynton & Lynmouth Town Council Nick Holliday Exmoor National Park Authority Eric Ley Exmoor National Park Authority and North Devon Council Ann Mallelieu Invitee Karen Mills West Somerset Council Bernard Peacock Lynton & Lynmouth Town Council Sue Sanders Minehead Town Council Katherine Williams Exmoor Hill Farming Network National Park Authority staff in attendance: Nigel Stone, Chief Executive David Wyborn, Head of Planning & Sustainable Development Sarah Bryan, Head of Conservation & Access Dan James, Sustainable Economy Manager 2. MINUTES: The minutes of the Forum meeting held on 24 September 2015 were agreed as a correct record subject to amendment to record apologies for absence from Richard Andrews. MATTERS ARISING: There were no matters arising. 3. QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR: Recent local radio coverage had included a report on a commercial venture to harvest bracken to make briquettes for burning in fireplaces and stoves. As harvesting took place when bracken was dying back, this and any similar initiatives would be unlikely to significantly address the bracken spread. It was suggested that bracken control and harvesting be a topic for discussion at a future meeting. It was confirmed that Arqiva, the company delivering the government-funded Mobile Infrastructure Project, had withdrawn from erecting a telecommunications mast at Haddon Hill, despite planning consent for the development being granted at the Authority’s meeting in October. It was understood that the principal reason for the withdrawal was that Arqiva did not consider that all necessary agreements would be in place to allow time for construction of the mast before the Project closed on 31 March 2016, and after which no further government funding would be available. It was confirmed that as the landowner, Exmoor National Park Authority had been in a position to sign a lease agreement (on terms limited by the nature of the project and the public funding being provided). However it was understood that Arqiva had yet to finalise an access agreement with South West Water. The situation was therefore disappointing and the Authority had been in contact with the local Member of Parliament with the aim of seeking government agreement to an extension of the Mobile Infrastructure Project to allow construction of the mast to proceed. It was suggested that individual Forum members contact the Minister responsible, Ed Vaizey (Minister of State at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills) in similar terms. Concern was raised about significant water run-off observed outside the boundary of the National Park at a site used for large-scale growing of swede crops. It was noted that any concern about water run-off and potential contamination of watercourses was a matter for the Environment Agency. It was also noted that Defra was consulting on new basic rules for farmers with the aim of improving farm efficiency and reducing water pollution from agriculture. 2 4. ECONOMIC PROSPECTUS – DARTMOOR AND EXMOOR NATIONAL PARKS: Dan James, Sustainable Economy Manager, updated the Forum on progress in working with the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise to develop an economic prospectus for Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks. A summary version of the prospectus was circulated to the meeting (attached). A longer version was available on the Authority’s website and included a series of case studies illustrating that the National Parks were already home to thriving businesses of different scales in various sectors. The aims of the prospectus were to highlight: that National Parks were economic as well as environmental and social assets; that National Park designation is an economic opportunity; a need for economic development appropriate to National Park status. Alongside the prospectus, a ‘map of investment opportunities’ had been developed so that Exmoor could respond quickly and effectively to any grant funding that became available. This document would remain ‘live’ and be updated as new investment opportunities came forward. The National Park Authority would be acting as facilitator, with the prospectus highlighting economic opportunities and bringing interested parties together to support businesses and to promote economic activity. The prospectus had achieved good press coverage and had begun to change perceptions about economic development in the two National Parks. Work was now continuing with the County Councils to development economic projects, and also to feed into the devolution process so that the environment as a resource was embedded in those discussions. The meeting welcomed the Economic Prospectus and in expressing support for economic growth Forum members noted the importance of conserving, rather than exploiting, the ‘natural capital’ of National Parks. 5. UNTIDY LAND AND UNFINISHED DEVELOPMENT: This topic had been raised by Winsford Parish Council, particularly in relation to unfinished development sites in their parish and any mechanisms available to resolve the issue. David Wyborn, Head of Planning & Sustainable Development, advised that authorised development must be implemented within 3 years of the grant of planning permission (formerly within 5 years). A permission would be regarded as implemented by the carrying out of a ‘material operation’, for example the digging of a trench for foundations. Once implemented, a planning permission remained ‘live’ in perpetuity, with there being no time limit for completion. For a variety of reasons a developer might choose not to complete a project, resulting in sites remaining unfinished for considerable periods of time. The meeting was advised that under planning legislation, a local planning authority may serve a Completion Notice stating that if the development were not completed within a specified time period (not less than 12 months), planning permission would expire. Crucially, a Completion Notice does not require the development to be completed and any unfinished works remaining on site after expiry of the permission would remain lawful. Therefore service of a Completion Notice had potential to result in unfinished (but lawful) development, with there being no ability for the developer to complete the project once planning permission had been withdrawn. A planning authority may also consider serving a Section 215 Notice (Untidy Land Notice) where any land or building was in an unreasonably untidy condition and which was considered to have an adverse effect on the amenity of the area. The Notice would specify the improvements required and a timescale for completion. Non-compliance with a notice was a criminal offence, with a right of appeal against service of a notice to the Magistrates Court (for instance on the basis that the land was being used for its lawful purpose or activity, eg as a building site during the construction phase of development). Service of Untidy Land Notices tended to be effective in urban areas, for example to address issues of 3 redundant industrial sites which may attract illegal activity such as fly tipping. However, they tended to be less effective in relation to individual homeowners, for whom the tidiness of their property may not be a priority, and where it may be questionable whether the site could be considered unreasonably untidy to the extent that area amenity was adversely affected. In relation