Agenda and minutes

The Chairman informed the Forum of the resignation of Pete Skipworth from the Forum with immediate effect.

RESOLVED

That the Forum place on record its appreciation for Pete Skipworth's contribution to the work of the Forum and that a letter be sent to him to thank him for his work and to wish him well for the future.

Apologies for absence were received from Sandra Harrison, David Mills Katherine Mills and Nicola Hardy (North East Lincolnshire Council)

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the previous meeting of the Mid Lincolnshire Local Access Forum held on 21 July 2015, be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the of the joint meeting of the Mid Lincolnshire and South Lincolnshire Local Access Forums held on 20 October 2015, be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

(Chris Miller, Countryside Access Manager, will provide an update on this item since the previous meeting)

Chris Miller stated that because of changes to the staffing structure in his section he had not had an opportunity to consider the use of Parish Council Notice Boards to advertise vacancies on the Local Access Forums. He stated that a number of local authorities were experiencing similar problems in attracting new members and added that it was feasible to use Parish Notice Boards and that the National Association of Local Councils was another option.

(Chris Miller, Countryside Access Manager, will provide an update on this item since the previous meeting)

Chris Miller stated that he had visited the site to view the obstruction of the route from Saltfleet Paradise (Blackridge) to Seaview Access but could not see any visible obstruction. He stated that he would have further discussions with the Environment Agency about this matter.

(Alan Jones, from the Humber Partnership, will give a representation)

Alan Jones, a Conservation Officer with the Humber Nature Partnership, gave a presentation on the work of the Humber Nature Partnership and stated that the aim of the Partnership was to deliver sustainable management of the Humber Estuary and its surrounding area which was a major SSSI in the UK. He stated that the Partnership was working with Natural England on the development of the England Coast Path in Lincolnshire.

Alan Jones responded to comments made by the Forum, as follows:-

(a) The issue of the numerous access points for vehicles along the south side of the Humber had led to problems of litter and the dumping of rubbish.

(b) Land in the Humber Estuary was mainly owned by the Port Authority.

(c) Issues in connection with the proposed route of the England Coastal Path and linkages would need to be considered by the local authorities and Natural England.

(d) Issues of "spreading room" and car parking would have to be carefully considered as these could have a detrimental effect on wildlife.

(e) The Partnership did not own any land but it acted as a facilitator with agencies, e.g. RSPB and Wildfowlers.

(f) The public was able to contact the Partnership to enquire about ownership of land in the Humber Estuary.

(Chris Miller, Countryside Access Manager, will update the Forum on the latest situation in connection with the County Council's budget for 2016/17)

Chris Miller gave a verbal update of the County Council's budget proposals for 2016/17. He stated that there was a need for the Council to save £140m in the next four years and added that there were some difficult financial choices for the Council to make by 1 April 2016.

(A report by Chris Miller, Countryside Access Officer, which seeks the views of the Forums before a report is submitted to a meeting of the County Council's Environment Scrutiny Committee)

The Committee received a report on the effects of budgetary constraints on the prioritisation and timescales of work undertaken by the County Council on Public Rights of Way.

Chris Miller responded to comments made by the Forum as follows:-

(a) The reporting of complaints about rights of way would be addressed by re-centralising the reporting of complaints.

(b) Parish Councils had the necessary powers to maintain rights of way but only a small minority were active in this area.

RESOLVED

That members respond to Steve Blagg, by 11 March 2016, with their comments on the various options to be considered by the County Council for the prioritisation of rights of way as detailed in the report and that a copy of each response be sent to members.

(Chris Padley will speak on this matter)

Chris Padley referred to the lack of consultation by the District Planning Authority on the proposed diversion of a right of way as a result of the Louth Flood Alleviation scheme and Chris Padley stated that only the formal consultees had been consulted. He stated that if the County Council had had a proper input into the planning process it might have been possible to suggest a more suitable route. Chris Padley enquired what the best method of advising the District Planning Authorities on these issues.

Chris Miller explained the process of consultation by District Planning Authorities and stated that on this particular issue his department had found out too late. John Stockdale, Senior Highways Officer, in his department should have been made aware of the application and its implications for rights of way at an earlier date. Chris Miller stated that a similar problem had occurred with the Tritton Knoll project.

Chris Miller agreed to raise this matter with the Strategic Planning Officer.

(Chris Padley will talk on this item. He has been asked by Network Rail if the Local Access Forums would be interested in receiving a presentation on their Level Crossing Strategy)

Chris Padley stated that he had received a request from Network Rail to talk to the Forum about Network Rail's proposals to close rights of way across railway lines. He stated that in the past different legislation had been used by Network Rail to close rights of way but recently the Secretary of State had issued new guidelines requesting that Network Rail should consult with Local Access Forums on proposed closures.

Chris Padley agreed to discuss Network Rail's request with Chris Miller and that subject to the outcome the necessary arrangements should be made to invite a representative of Network Rail to talk to the Local Access Forums.

(Chris Padley has raised this item.The issue has come to his notice because one is being made in Gainsborough which appears to be intended to have the same effect as a Gating Order, but this new legislation contains no requirement to consult Local Access Forums, or anyone else for that matter.  It appears to enable local authorities to ban anything they want anywhere, anytime)

Chris Padley referred to the introduction of a Public Space Protection Order under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, by West Lindsey District Council on a right of way in Gainsborough and the issues raised by its introduction. He stated that this particular Order had generated a lot of debate locally as the right of way was well used by the public.

Chris Padley stated that West Lindsey District Council had listened to the outcome of the public meeting to discuss this matter and had agreed to reconsider.

Chris Miller stated that if this was a right of way on the Definitive Map then the County Council would have been consulted. With regard to the legislation mentioned by Chris Padley there was no need to consult Local Access Forums or Highways. He stated that he would inform highways that if they received a request to respond to a similar Order then they should notify his section.

(A report by John Law, a representative on the South Lincolnshire Local Access Forum, which seeks the views of this Forum)

The Forum received a report by John Law, a member of the South Lincolnshire Local Access Forum, in connection with "making our needs known and influencing decision makers". The report outlined how Local Access Forums could ensure future matters raised as issues which effected national countryside access, did not go unnoticed and were treated as important matters by Natural England and Defra. This was especially important in view of the reduction in financial resources.

The Forum supported the proposals in the report but because of the lack of resources the proposals could only be seen as aspirational.

Officers stated that they were due to meet Natural England tomorrow and that the issues raised in John Law's report could be raised with them and subsequently raised at a regional level.

The Forum supported the proposals detailed in the report.

(A report by John Law, a representative on the South Lincolnshire Local Access Forum, which seeks the views of this Forum)

The Forum received a report by John Law, a member of the South Lincs Local Access Forum, in connection with a proposal for the future of Higher Level Stewardship schemes. This followed concern by Local Access Forums nationally about the loss of all permissive access funding by the end of 2020. The report detailed a proposal to create a body representing Local Access Forums to influence the Government on this matter.

The Forum supported the proposals in the report.

(A report by John Law, a representative of the South Lincolnshire Access Forum, which provides an update of the work of the Sub Group)

The Forum received a report from John Law, a member of the South Lincolnshire Local Access Forum, in connection with progress of the Lost Ways Sub Group.

The Chairman referred to the excellent system of recording Lost Ways set up by the Leicestershire Local Access Forum and suggested that Leicestershire's system should be extended to Lincolnshire which would allow the public to examine and amend accordingly.

Comments made by the Forum included the need for training to identify Lost Ways and the need for a volunteer to work on the project.

Chris Miller agreed to speak to Rosemary Harris, a member of the South Lincolnshire Local Access Forum, about a training venue for both Forums, and keep the British Horse Society informed of the training arrangements.

(A report by John Law, a representative on the South Lincolnshire Local Access Forum, which provides an update on the survey of seven Rights of Way)

The Forum received a report from John Law, a representative of the South Lincolnshire Local Access Forum, in connection with progress of the Countryside for All Sub Group. With regard to current and future funding bids, the Sub Group had asked for the views of both Local Access Forums

RESOLVED

That the Sub Group be allowed:-

(a) To apply to other funding bodies for the dementia friendly walk leader training places.

(b) To draft speculative letters for funding, for the Local Access Forums approval and signature by the Chairman.

(c) To write applications with other organisations to funders.

(A report by Chris Miller, Countryside Access Manager. Please note only those issues which have changed since the previous meeting are included in the report. Members can view previous action by clicking on to the link detailed in the report)

Chris Miller gave a verbal update of the County Council's Countryside Access and Rights of Way Improvement Plan. He stated that his section no longer had a Rights of Way Improvement Officer and added that the shortage of funding except for statutory matters meant that the need to produce a detailed Plan was no longer required. He stated that in future it was proposed to produce an annual report on the Plan to both Forums and that this would only highlight the main issues.

The Forum noted Chris Miller's comments and noted that there was a statutory duty to send the annual report to Defra.

(A report by Nicola Hardy, Public Rights of Way Mapping Officer)

The Forum received a report from North East Lincolnshire Council on their Rights of Way Improvement Plan objectives.

Councillor I Colquhoun highlighted the path surface improvements under the Strategic Urban Path Improvement Plan. With regard to the reinstatement of footpath 72, he stated that the line of the footpath agreed in 2010, had recently been enforced by the Planning Committee and they had agreed that any modification fee would be waived if the landowners took the initiative and put in a revised route acceptable to the public because if it was not possible to reach agreement the Planning Committee had agreed to enforce the line of the footpath agreed in 2010.

(A report by Chris Miller, Countryside Access Manager, which examines the latest cases only)

(Note: Councillor D C Hoyes MBE left the meeting)

The Forum received a report from the County Council in connection with progress of their Definitive Map Modification Orders.

Members were asked to email their comments on the new report format to chris.miller@lincolnshire.gov.uk

(A report by Nicola Hardy, Public Rights of Way Mapping Officer)

The Forum received a report in connection with North East Lincolnshire Council's progress of their Definitive Map Modification Orders. NOTED.

(A report by Chris Miller, Countryside Access Manager, which examines the latest cases only)

The Forum received a report from the County Council in connection with the progress of their Public Path Orders. Officers explained that the new arrangements proposed in the Deregulation Act 2015 could make the process of dealing with Public Path Orders more cost neutral as the current arrangements allowed the Council to impose a charge to divert, extinguish or create public rights of way. NOTED.

(A report by Nicola Hardy, Public Rights of Way Mapping Officer)

The Forum received a report from North East Lincolnshire Council on the progress of their Public Path Orders.

Councillor I Colquhoun stated that with regard to Public Path Order No. 14 (Ashby Cum Fenby BW91) the landowner had now withdrawn his appeal and the Order would now be implemented which was good news. NOTED.

(There are normally four meetings of the Forum arranged in each year – January, April, July (AGM) and October. The meetings in April and July are normally arranged in the evening. The views of the Forum are sought)

The following dates and times of future meetings of the Forum were agreed:-

2.00pm on Tuesday 26 April 2016 at Wragby Fire Station

6.00pm on Tuesday 19 July 2016 at Huttoft Village Hall

(Post meeting note – Wragby Fire Station is no longer convenient to use for the meeting arranged for 26 April 2016 and the alternative venue was now the Admiral Rodney Hotel, Horncastle)