Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room One, County Offices, Newland, Lincoln Lincs LN1 1YL. View directions

Contact: Steve Blagg  Democratic Services Officer

Items
No. Item

40.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Iain Colquhoun and Deborah North.

41.

Declarations of Members' Interests

Minutes:

No declarations were made at this stage of the meeting.

42.

Minutes of the previous meeting of the Mid Lincolnshire Local Access Forum held on 18 October 2016 pdf icon PDF 134 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 18 October 2016, be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

43.

Actions Arising since the previous meeting of the Forum

44.

Minute 28 - English Coastal Path

(Colin Smith has asked if there is any progress to report on this project)

Minutes:

In response to a question from Colin Smith in connection with progress of the English Coastal Path, officers stated that the proposed route of the path from Skegness to Mablethorpe was due to be published by Natural England in early March 2017. Objections received to the proposed route of the path around the golf course on the north shore, Skegness and safety concerns in connection with the crossing of Quebec Road in Mablethorpe would be addressed by the Planning Inspector.

 

Officers stated that the proposed route from Sutton Bridge to Skegness was not as advanced with issues in the vicinity of Gibraltar Point being resolved and the option of using the Internal Drainage Board bridge to cross the river together with mitigation measures to protect wildlife being put in place.

45.

Minute 30 - Accessibility Ambassadors

(Colin Smith has asked what progress has been made on this matter)

Minutes:

This item was covered in minute No. 49.

46.

Minute 32 - Health Related Walks from April 2017

(Colin Smith has asked what progress has been made on this matter)

Minutes:

This item was covered in minute No. 49.

47.

De-Regulation Act

(Colin Smith has asked if there has been any progress in connection with the De-Regulation Act)

Minutes:

In response to a question from Colin Smith in connection with progress of the implementation of the De-Regulation Act, officers stated that as affirmation of both Houses of Parliament were required before the Act could be enacted and this was unlikely as the Government had more important legislation to consider. Officers stated that other issues causing a delay to the introduction of the legislation included the Treasury's wish to see written guidance of the cost implications included and the possible suggestion of splitting the legislative package. The responsible Minister for introducing the legislation was keen to keep the package together. Officers stated that any legislation would not be introduced before 1 April 2017.

48.

"Getting Active Outdoors" - An update by Rachel Belcher, Lincolnshire Sport pdf icon PDF 111 KB

(Rachel Belcher, Lincolnshire Sport, will provide an update on "Getting Active Outdoors")

Minutes:

Rachel Belcher, Lincolnshire Sport, gave details of a new strategy adopted by Sport England following a statement by the Government that Sport England was not hitting the health agenda. Sport England was therefore moving away from support for its traditional areas to try and get people more active out of doors and one of these aims was to try and get more people walking. Details of the proposals were outlined which included training twelve "Champions" to train people at a local level, particularly younger people so that they could spread the message of the health benefits to their families. She stated that it was proposed to start the initiative in Boston and South Holland as these areas had high levels of inactivity. It was proposed to use "apps" on mobile phones to allow participants to plan routes. She added that walks for people suffering from dementia had been trialled in Hartsholme Park where over 226 people had taken part and 101 families involved. She stated that the demand was there and that walking provided a good activity to start off with.

 

Comments by the Forum and responses included the following:-

 

·   The proposals were welcomed.

·   Care was needed not to put participants off and walking distances needed to be reasonable to start off with. Treasure hunts  were a good idea to get people's interest. Lincolnshire Sports was also working with individual groups in East Lindsey to start the initiative.

·  Lincolnshire Sport was working in consultation with the NHS to provide support for carers working with people suffering from dementia and GP surgeries.

·  In some cases schools were asked to design walks for after school activities including nature walks in consultation with the Wildlife Trust.

·  The "Champions" were aiming to attract young families and the elderly in the Boston and South Holland areas.

·  It was noted that West Lindsey District Council had withdrawn financial support for volunteers in its area. Some volunteers travelled a long way and there could be some support from the Co-op to meet their costs.

·  Map reading skills could be promoted in the various walking groups and Rachel Belcher agreed to provide contact details.

·  It was important to introduce a social dimension to the walks which would encourage participation. This might include a visit to a RSPB reserve and ascertaining people's hobbies. There was a need to avoid participants having to travel long distances.

·  It was agreed that there was a need to monitor the results of the project and show value for money for the NHS by the increase in physical activity.

·  The use of apps allowed people to create their own walks.

·  Both Access Forums should be kept updated of the progress of the project.

 

The Forum placed on record its appreciation to Rachel Belcher for an interesting presentation and gave their full support to the Lincolnshire Sport project

 

·  .

49.

Countryside for All Routes pdf icon PDF 199 KB

(A report by John Law, a member of the South Lincolnshire and Rutland Local Access Forum, which provides a progress report on the development of routes for all in the countryside)

Minutes:

The Forum received a progress report from John Law, a member of the South Lincolnshire Local Access Forum, in connection with the development of routes for all in the countryside. In response to some questions asked by John Law in his report officers stated that the Accessibility Ambassadors should contact the Rights of Way section whose details were available on the Council's website. With regard to the various questions asked under paragraph 10 (Disability Sub Group Change of Name and Logo), the Forum concurred with the responses of the Disability Sub Group.

50.

North East Lincolnshire Countryside and Rights of Way Improvement Plan pdf icon PDF 9 KB

(A report by Matthew Chaplin, Rights of Way Officer, North East

Lincolnshire Council with the Council's Rights of Way Improvement

Plan)

Minutes:

The Forum received a progress report from North East Lincolnshire Council in connection with its Countryside and Rights of Way Improvement Plan. Officers stated that in addition to the information provided in the report the line of Footpath 72 requiring amendment to the Definitive Map and the reinstatement of the path on the ground would take place this week.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the report be noted.

51.

Lincolnshire County Council Progress of Definitive Map Modification Orders pdf icon PDF 239 KB

(A report by Chris Miller, Team Leader, Countryside Services,on

the latest situation of these Orders)

Minutes:

(NOTE: Sheila Brookes left the meeting during this item)

 

The Forum received a report from Lincolnshire County Council on the progress of its Definitive Map Modification Orders. Officers stated that as many of the cases were quite old the user evidence was poor.

 

The Forum commented that many of the cases did not support a public right of way and that a review of how orders were prioritised might be necessary. Also, consideration should be given to the likelihood of a case succeeding and that one of the issues with the current system was that when there was a natural delay applications went automatically to the bottom of the list for consideration. The Forum stated that consideration should be given to those cases that if taken out of sequence could lead to a positive outcome. Officers stated that any request to take a case out of sequence in the priority list was a decision for the Definitive Map and Statement of Public Rights of Way Sub-Committee. Officers stated that under the De-Regulation Act the priority system would require alteration but they accepted the Forum's point about the need to consider the priority system.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the report and the comments made by the Forum be noted.   

52.

North East Lincolnshire Council Progress of Definitive Map Modification Orders pdf icon PDF 9 KB

(A report by Matthew Chaplin, Rights of Way Officer, North East

Lincolnshire Council, on the latest situation of these Orders)

Minutes:

The Forum received a report from North East Lincolnshire Council in connection with the progress of its Definitive Map Modification Orders.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the report be noted.

53.

Lincolnshire County Council Progress of Public Path Orders pdf icon PDF 99 KB

(A report by Chris Miller, Countryside Services Team Leader, in

connection with the latest update of these Orders)

Minutes:

(NOTE: Councillor D McNally left the meeting during this item and the meeting became inquorate)

 

The Forum received a progress report from Lincolnshire County Council in connection with its Public Path Orders. Officers stated that in connection with the Coastal Country Park the Council was about to start formal consultations on the proposed diversions to realign routes in the Park which hopefully would improve connectivity.

 

Since the publication of the report officers updated the Forum as follows:-

 

·    With regard to the level crossing diversion orders at Tallington the Council was still waiting for the Statement of Reasons for the diversion from Network Rail. A member of the Forum commented that he had received notice from the Council that the Orders had been withdrawn and officers agreed to check out this information which could have been a misunderstanding.

·    There was an alternative route being investigated in connection with Claypole level crossing but it required landowner engagement.

·    It was now possible to progress the diversion of the footpath now that it was no longer a bridleway at North Somercotes and there were on-going talks with the Environment Agency as it was likely to be proposed that the route would become part of the new English coastal path.

 

Comments by the Forum included:-

 

·    The need to remove a kissing gate on a path in Branston because it was no longer required. Officers stated that the cost of removal was expensive and larger problem was with inaccessible stiles. Officers informed the Forum that 385 such stiles had been removed in the last ten years in the north west of the county by one officer alone. It was suggested that the issue at Branston should be raised with the local County Councillor.

·    Because of the shortage of funding from the County Council Lincolnshire Sport should be approached for funding

 

RESOLVED

 

That the report and comments made by the Forum be noted.

 

54.

North East Lincolnshire Council Progress of Public Path Orders pdf icon PDF 9 KB

(A report by Matthew Chaplin, Rights of Way Officer, North East

Lincolnshire Council, in connection with the progress of latest

situation of these Orders)

Minutes:

The Forum received a progress report from North East Lincolnshire Council in connection with their Public Path Orders.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the report be noted.

55.

Date and Time of the Next Meeting

Minutes:

It was agreed that the next meeting of the Forum should be arranged for 2.00pm on Tuesday 4 April 2017 at the County Offices, Lincoln.

 

 
 
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