Issue - meetings

(To receive a report from the Executive Director of Environment and Economy, which notes the outcome of the review of the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan 2013-2018 and the changes proposed to the Plan as set out in the report.  The report also invites the Executive to formally adopt the document attached at Appendix A, which incorporates the said changes as the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan 2018-2023)

(1)  That the outcome of the review of the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan 2013-2018 and the changes proposed to the Plan as set out in the Report be noted.

(2)  That the document, as detailed at Appendix A to the report, which incorporates the said changes as the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan 2018-2023 be formally adopted.

Consideration was given to a report from the Executive Director of Environment and Economy, which informed the Executive of the outcome of a review of the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan and set out the recommended changes to the Plan.

The Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service Manager advised that under the Countryside and Rights of Way Legislation (CROW Act 2000), the County Council had a statutory duty to produce and review a five yearly management plan for the Lincolnshire Wolds AONB.  

The Management Plan had four sections, which included: Protecting the Wolds; Discovering the Wolds; Sustaining the Wolds; and Making it Happen.  There were 19 objectives; 78 policies and 180+ actions to help protect, enhance and promote the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

It was noted that the AONB Partnership was working hard to ensure that the new Plan provided a stimulus for the further protection and enhancement of the Lincolnshire Wolds, including a wide range of collaborative initiatives embracing public, private and third sector engagement.  

It was advised that the Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee had considered the draft AONB Management Plan at its meeting on 16 January 2018 and had endorsed the draft Management Plan with an acknowledgement that further changes may be required, following the conclusion of the public consultation.

Further to this it was noted that the Management Plan had been endorsed by the Lincolnshire Wolds Joint Advisory Committee at its meeting on 12 April 2018.  Natural England had confirmed its approval and validation of the document, thus releasing the Plan for its formal adoption from all relevant local planning authorities. 

Members were provided with an opportunity to ask questions, where the following points were noted: -

·         It was also confirmed that the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan 2018-2023 would be published on the County Council's website, with a very small number of hard copies being made available owing to its size;

·         A summary of the public consultation was detailed at Appendix 7b to the report;

·         The Management Plan aimed to successfully balance land management interests to help support economic, social and environmental objectives for all;

·         It was confirmed that the local community; residents and landowners had been engaged through the public consultation; and

·         There was clarification that the final adopted Management Plan would be a material consideration in formal planning matters, in that the document would seek to complement the relevant Local Development Framework, Minerals and Waste Plans and other significant plans.

RESOLVED

(1)  That the outcome of the review of the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan 2013-2018 and the changes proposed to the Plan as set out in the Report be noted.

(2)  That the document, as detailed at Appendix A to the report, which incorporates the said changes as the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan 2018-2023 be formally adopted.