ITEM PAGE ABERDEEN CITY COUNCIL Name of Committee : Policy and Strategy Date of Meeting : 10 June 2008 Title of Report : Final Draft Core Paths Plan Lead Officer : Margaret Bochel, Head of Planning and Infrastructure Author of Report : Rachel Sharp, Senior Planner (52)3316 [email protected] Other Involvement : Aberdeen Outdoor Access Forum Ian Talboys, Countryside Officer, Jonathan Kitching, Outdoor Education Co-ordinator, Davie Grant, George Davidson, Jake Gellatly, Grounds Maintenance Officers, Gale Beattie, Team Leader Development Plan, Chris Jackson, Development Management, Dawn Haggarty, School Travel Plan Co-ordinator, Doug Ritchie, Engineer, Bill Wilson, Engineer, Judith Stones, Keeper of Archaeology. Various others were involved in the earlier stages, e.g. objective setting and initial consultation. Consultation undertaken with : City Solicitor City Chamberlain ECMT Councillors Dean, Stewart, Clark and Greig Summary of Report Following consultation on the Consultative Draft Core Paths Plan, this report provides feedback to Members on the responses received and proposes a Final Draft Core Paths Plan. The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 requires the Final Draft to undergo twelve weeks’ statutory consultation. Following this, it is possible that a Public Local Inquiry (PLI) may be required before adoption of the Plan. The consultation efforts to date have attempted to minimise or avoid outstanding objections, reducing the likelihood of a PLI being required. Recommendations It is recommended that Members: 1. Note the responses received during consultation on the Consultative Draft Core Paths Plan and the subsequent changes proposed in the Final Draft. 2. Instruct officers to proceed with publishing the Final Draft Core Paths Plan for statutory consultation. 3. Note the possible resource implications of implementing the proposed Final Core Paths Plan and refer to the Capital Planning Process for consideration of funding for 2009/10 and future. 4. Note the revenue resource implications and refer to Resources Management Committee. Links to the Community Plan and to Vibrant, Dynamic & Forward Looking The Core Paths Plan will have positive impacts on at least six of the Community Plan’s fourteen Challenges. These include ‘Neighbourhood Action – Community Planning’, ‘Health and Social ITEM PAGE Care’, ‘Land Use and Environment’, ‘Transport and Connections’; ‘Aberdeen’s Image’; and ‘Arts, Heritage and Sport’. The Core Paths Plan’s Vision, Aims and Objectives have been developed in line with Aberdeen’s Outdoor Access Strategy, which is wholly based upon these key challenges. The Plan links with Vibrant, Dynamic & Forward Looking as follows. Education: promoting health and well-being of pupils through exercise. Economic Development: links with sustainable economy and regeneration. Culture, Arts and Sport: Increase participation, quality sports facilities and tourism. Health and Care: joint working with NHS Grampian and improving mental health and well-being. Transport: encouraging walking and cycling. Implementation Although the Council has a statutory responsibility to prepare a Draft Core Paths Plan, the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 does not require it to be implemented. There is a strong public expectation that this will be the case however, which is evident through the responses to the Consultative Draft version of the Plan. There are also strong strategic and policy reasons for implementing the Plan, with significant links to local and national outcomes. The Plan which has been developed to date seeks to strike a balance between the resources required to implement the core paths network and deliver the significant and wide ranging benefits associated with the Plan’s objectives. Resource Implications People : Officers within the Planning and Infrastructure Service are working on the preparation of the Core Paths Plan, with inputs as and when appropriate from other Services. The implementation of the Plan will require joint-working from various services, including Neighbourhood Service Areas at an operational level. Finance : The routes proposed as core paths have been assessed and works required to improve them identified. The cost of these improvements has been estimated at a minimum of around £350,000. This financial year £145,000 has been approved towards implementation of the Core Paths Plan through the Explore Aberdeen project by the Energising Aberdeen Board. Aberdeen Countryside Project has also agreed to contribute £70,000 over this financial year and next. A contribution of £120,000 towards particular proposed core paths by Nestrans for 2008/09 has also been approved. Sustrans has in the past been a key funding body for path works in the City. However it is as yet unclear to what extent they will continue to grant fund path work, as a result of the Spending Review. Once this is known, any outstanding capital implications will be referred to the Capital Planning Process. Additional maintenance costs for core paths on Council-owned land have been estimated at £30,000 in total across the City. It is proposed that this be referred to the Resources Management Committee. Full implementation of the Plan will be subject to Members’ approval of the necessary resources. Systems & Technology : The Council’s new Geographic Information System (GIS) will enable the rolling out of the Countryside Access Management System (CAMS) to key officers in order to enable more effective monitoring and management of core paths. The CAMS software is already in use but to a limited extent until the new GIS is in place. 2 ITEM PAGE Property : The Core Paths Plan must cover the whole Aberdeen City area and link with Aberdeenshire. Therefore proposed core paths run across land owned by the Council, as well as land owned by private and other public sector landowners. Other Equipment : No implications on other equipment. Other : No other implications. Other Implications Health & Safety : One of the key aims of the Core Paths Plan is to encourage physical activity, which is a key factor in health improvement. Safety of path users will be considered by working towards all core paths being fit for purpose. Risk Management : Risks include: possible lack of internal and external capacity for designing and carrying out improvement works; insufficient capital and/or revenue funds being available, leading to safety risks and possible liability issues, for example through inadequately maintained routes; if the Core Paths Plan is not produced the Council would fail to meet statutory obligations; if the Plan is not implemented, its objectives, which are linked to the Single Outcome Agreement, will not be met. Human Rights/ : The ‘Paths for All’ principle, i.e. catering for all types of path user Equalities/Diversity and all abilities, is a key factor of the Core Paths Plan. The process has aimed to ensure all sectors of the community are involved and are catered for in the Plan. The Equality and Human Rights Impact Assessment demonstrates these impacts. Equalities Impact : On the whole, the results from the Equality and Human Rights Assessment Impact Assessment confirms that the Core Paths Plan should have positive impacts on a wide range of stakeholder groups. The Core Paths Plan will promote and designate a network of core paths suitable for a range of users (e.g. walkers, cyclists, horse-riders etc) and all abilities. Sustainability : Sustainability is considered throughout the Core Paths Plan, from the high-level vision, through to the objectives relating to integration with other strategies, maintenance, and social, economic and environmental impacts. Environmental : A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is required and comments from statutory consultees on a Scoping Report have been received. The responses were supportive of the proposed approach to carrying out the Environmental Assessment. Social : Community engagement has been encouraged throughout the process. Social inclusion will be enhanced through connecting people and places. 3 ITEM PAGE Economic : Positive impacts are expected, relating to tourism and business opportunities. Evidence suggests that good access to quality greenspaces is a key factor in attracting and retaining people and investment to an area. Construction : The relevant construction regulations will be adhered to in carrying out physical path works. Signature : Main Considerations 1. Purpose of Report 1.1 The purpose of this report is to present a proposed Final Draft Core Paths Plan to Members, which on approval, will be subject to a twelve week period of statutory consultation in accordance with the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003. 1.2 The report outlines the process that has been adopted to arrive at the stage of proposing a Final Draft Core Paths Plan, with reference given to the main findings from the consultation undertaken on the Consultative Draft. Key changes made as a result of the consultation responses have also been highlighted. 1.3 The report also includes reference to the future steps involved in finalising the Core Paths Plan, including the formal, statutory consultation which will be undertaken subject to Committee approval of the appended Final Draft Core Paths Plan. 2. Background and Context 2.1 The term ‘core paths’ was introduced in the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003. The Act set out that all Local Authorities and National Parks have a statutory duty to draw up a Core Paths Plan that will “provide the basic framework of routes sufficient for the purpose of giving the public reasonable