Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from A Hill.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 3 July 2013 be agreed and signed by the Chairman.

It was noted that Mr G Keeping needed to be removed from the membership of the Forum.

(To receive a verbal update from Chris Miller, Countryside Access Manager, Lincolnshire County Council)

The Countryside Access and Definitive Map Manager provided the Local Access Forum with an update concerning Minute No 5 from the meeting held on 3 July 2013 concerning the bridleway issue in Stamford.  The Forum agreed to discuss the issue further at the next meeting.

The Public Rights of Way Officer for Rutland County Council reported that he was awaiting confirmation from his council's legal services team and would update the Forum in six months' time.

(To receive a verbal update from Stuart Crook, Public Rights of Way Officer, Rutland County Council)

Stuart Crook reported that the enforcement policy was not yet available but would be discussed at the next meeting.

REOLVED

That the Rutland County Council Countryside Access and Rights of Way Plan Update be discussed at the next meeting.

(To receive a report from Andy Savage, Senior Countryside Access Manager, Lincolnshire County Council)

Andrew Savage reported that 12 schemes had been implemented and another was to be implemented in the next six months.  The management plan for unsurfaced green lanes had been completed.

The draft plan was not available for this meeting but would be circulated for the next meeting in January 2014.

Questions were asked regarding The Drift on the Viking Way (running from Denton to Skilington, Lincolnshire).  Mr Savage confirmed that there were issues regarding this Site of Special Scientific Interest as it was being abused by two and four wheeled vehicles.  Stopping motorcycles from gaining access would be difficult.

Issues were raised regarding the E38 bridleway at Newstead which was overgrown.  If not dealt with, the overgrowth would close the way completely.  Andrew Savage would follow up this query.

RESOLVED

        That the report be noted.

(To receive a report from Stuart Crook, Public Rights of Way Officer, Rutland County Council)

The update for Rutland County Council was discussed and it was noted that a report, recommending that the applications in respect of E229 and E231 (Ketton) be rejected, had been drafted.  Consultation with the Parish Council would be conducted before the report was considered by the Director for Places.

RESOLVED

          That the report be noted.

(To receive a report from Chris Miller, Countryside Access Manager, Lincolnshire County Council)

It was noted that Wrangle and Caistor had been completed, however a number of cases had not been confirmed and these were listed in the report.  A further three cases had been submitted to the Secretary of State.

As cases were completed, it would free up staff capacity to take on older cases in the near future.

RESOLVED

        That the report be noted.

(To receive a report from Stuart Crook, Public Rights of Way Officer, Rutland County Council)

Stuart Crook reported that two orders had been made since the last meeting, in Stretton and Exton.  An objector had been persuaded to withdraw their objection from the Exton application; and an objection to the Stretton application by the Parish Council led to it being abandoned.

RESOLVED

          That the report be noted.

(To receive a report from Chris Miller, Countryside Access Manager, Lincolnshire County Council)

The names of the completed Public Path Orders would be brought to the next meeting.

RESOLVED

        That the report be noted.

(To receive a verbal update from Mr John Law)

John Law provided feedback from the last East Midlands LAF Chairs meeting.

·       An annual conference, organised by Natural England was in the pipeline and one member from each Local Access Forum would be invited.  More details to follow;

·       A meeting of the County Council Farms Sub Group would be held in the afternoon of 9 October 2013;

·       A recruitment programme for new members of the Leicestershire Local Access Forum was being undertaken.  Details would be sent to Chris Miller and Andrew Savage.  Interest was raised by contacting local outdoor groups and, as a result, over 30 applications had been received for 8 positions;

·       Discussion took place on ways in which the Lincolnshire Local Access Forums could be easier to administer;

·       Natural England had been invited to attend recent meetings of the Linconlnshire forums, however they had recently been undergoing some upheaval.  Fiona Taylor would be the organisation's representative at future meetings.

RESOLVED

                That the report be noted.

(To receive a verbal update from Mr John Law)

John Law addressed the Forum regarding the potential for a walking festival to be organised.  2013 would be the fifth year of the Rutland Walking Festival, which was very successful and attracted a large number of walkers.  Likewise, the Wolds Walking Festival was very popular.  During discussion of the idea, the following points were noted:

·       A festival could be organised around the towns of South Lincolnshire;

·       A number of weekend festivals could be organised, each taking place in a different area;

·       Funding could be an issue, however it was reported that Public Health and Rights of Way would contribute, as would Heritage Lincolnshire;

·       The main aim of a festival would be to inspire people who wouldn't normally go walking, to give it a try;

·       Further information would be circulated with a letter in the future.

RESOLVED

                That the suggestions made be noted.

Reports to LAF  

Members queried whether more guest speakers should be invited to present to the LAF.  The following suggestions were made:

·       Chris Miller suggested that a colleague in Public Health who helped to find locations for health walks, be invited to speak.  In addition, there was a HealthWatch coordinator in each area of the county;

·       Someone from Ketton could be invited to the meeting to be held in Stamford;

·       Lost Ways, in anticipation of the Definitive Map being closed to old routes after 2026;

·       The influence that the withdrawal of Natural England from Gibraltar Point would have.  The LAF did not have much influence regarding this.

Disability Sub Group

Gordon Norris updated the Forum on the Disability Sub Group and stated that the group had lost some members, but thanked John Law and Paul Marshall for joining the group and returning it to the original six members.

Five walks were at present being measured and these were:

·       2, at Rutland Waters;

·       1, at Mareham Pastures, Mareham Lane, Sleaford;

·       1, at Willingham Woods, Market Rasen;

·       1, at Gibraltar Point, near to Skegness.

Before these were to be printed a meeting was to be arranged with representatives from the various disability groups in the county to ask if they could see any ways of improving the maps for their members.

Once these five maps were completed the following walks would be looked at:

·       1, at Westgate Woods, Boston;

·       1, at Louth Canal walk;

·       1, at Horncastle Canal walk;

·       1, at Frampton RSPB Site near Boston;

·       1, at St. Mary’s Park, Mablethorpe.

The sub group felt that with these 10 walks and the original 5 walks which had been completed two years previous would make 15 walks in total and would give a good coverage for the county.

The Forum was asked for ideas on how to advertise the walks once they had been completed.  Someone suggested that County News would be an ideal publication to advertise the walks throughout the County, but followed this by stating that space is restricted. Councillor Wooten offered to ask about this as he felt it was worthy of space in the magazine.  Mr Norris would email details to Councillor Wootten.

It was agreed that the Disability Sub Group would be a standard item on the agenda for future meetings.

RESOLVED

1.     That the updates be noted;

2.     That the Disability Sub Group become a standard item on the agenda for future meetings.

(To set and agreed the date, time and venue of the next meeting)

It was agreed the next meeting would be held on 15 January 2014 at 11am in Lincoln.

The meeting closed at 12.25pm.