Agenda and minutes

Venue: The Stanhope Hall, Boston Road,Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6NF

Contact: Steve Blagg  Democratic Services Officer

Items
No. Item

120.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

An apology for absence was received from Colin Smith.

121.

Councillor Iain Colquhoun - Retirement from the Forum

Minutes:

The Chairman stated that this was Councillor Iain Colquhoun's last meeting on the Forum as he was retiring as a member of North East Lincolnshire Council and would not be standing for re-election at the Election on 3 May 2018. The Forum placed on record their appreciation for his contribution to the Forum and wished him well for the future. Councillor Colquhoun thanked members for their kind words.

122.

Declarations of Members' Interests

Minutes:

No declarations of interests were made at this stage of the meeting.

123.

Minutes of the previous meeting of the Mid Lincolnshire Local Access Forum held on 23 January 2018 pdf icon PDF 150 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 23 January 2018, be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

124.

Collow Abbey to Clump Hill and on to Hainton - Blockage of Bridleway (Minute 117)

Minutes:

A member raised concerns about the blockage of the bridleway from Collow Abbey through to Clump Hill and on to Hainton caused by 4x4s. The member stated that fly tipping was also an issue on the bridleway. The member was requested to contact West Lindsey District Council to remove the fly tipping and the illegal use of the bridleway by 4x4s should be reported to Countryside Services. The Forum was informed that private owners of property on the route still had access along the bridleway.

125.

English Coastal Footpath - Update pdf icon PDF 112 KB

(Chris Miller, Team Leader, Countryside Services, Lincolnshire County Council, will give an update on progress of the footpath)

Minutes:

The Forum received an update in connection with progress of the English Coastal Footpath.

 

Officers stated that a long term partnership agreement to maintain the footpath involving the various local authorities along the route of the footpath was being examined.

 

A member enquired whether the route of the footpath in North East Lincolnshire would avoid the docks suggesting that the route could follow existing rights of way south of Grimsby which were more scenic. Officers stated that it was proposed that the route would pass through the historic centre of Grimsby.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the report be noted.

 

126.

Recent Inclement Weather - Help Provided by Lincolnshire Community Assistance Team (L-CAT) pdf icon PDF 182 KB

(To receive a report by David Salkeld, Rights of Way Officer, L-CAT, in connection with the assistance provided by L-CAT to local communities in the recent inclement weather at the end of February 2018)

Minutes:

(Councillor Lewis Strange arrived in the meeting)

 

The Forum received a report from David Salkeld in connection with the help provided by L-CAT to local communities during the recent inclement weather including helping to deliver meals on wheels and transporting people to and from hospital.

 

The Chairman stated that the good work done by L-CAT during the recent inclement weather had been welcomed.

 

David Salkeld stated that responsible 4x4 owners were interested in ensuring that Green Lanes were maintained citing the example of work recently undertaken to maintain a Green Lane. The maintenance was welcomed by the Forum and it was suggested that David Salkeld should co-ordinate L-CAT's activities through the County Council's Countryside and Highway services.

 

David Salkeld stated that he was seeking information from the County Council's Countryside Services, about which Green Lanes which could be used by 4x4s adding that his group was noting those 4x4 users causing criminal damage and reporting them to the police. He said that L-CAT needed to know the existence of accessible rights of way for 4x4s to assist the police in searching for missing individuals.

 

David Salkeld would speak to Sheila Brookes outside of the meeting in connection with her complaint about damage to the bridleway raised in minute 124.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the report be noted.

 

127.

Report back on the South Kesteven District Council planners training event

(The Chairman will report on his attendance at the South Kesteven District Council planners' training event. The Forum will recall that the Chairman received an invite following the letter to the Chief Executives of District Councils in Lincolnshire from the Chairmen of both Lincolnshire's Local Access Forums in connection with communication with the Local Access Forums on planning applications)

Minutes:

The Chairman stated that both himself and Catherine Beeby, Senior Definitive Map Officer, had been invited to South Kesteven District Council where they had both participated in a planners' training event and had taken the opportunity to speak about how both the law and planning affected rights of way. He had explained how planning applications could affect rights of way, the health and wellbeing benefits of walking and added he was surprised how little the planners knew about rights of way. He added that all parties had welcomed the opportunity to share information about their roles.

 

A member stated that many local authorities arranged walking festivals and that planning authorities should be aware of these events. The Forum agreed that planning authorities should always consult Local Access Forums if a planning application affected a right way and hoped that there would more opportunities to provide information about rights of way.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the report be noted.

128.

Achieving Added Value for Tourism and Business from Coastal Management pdf icon PDF 138 KB

(A report presented to Lincolnshire County Council's Environment and Economic Scrutiny Committee on 28 November 2017 and a minute of that item. This is brought to the Forum for information and comment)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Forum received a report which had been considered by the County Council's Environment and Economic Scrutiny Committee last year in connection with a review of progress on developing a long term plan for promoting tourism and environmental protection in the context of investing in coastal management. The report, in particular, examined the area covered by the Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park and the opportunities to attract visitors and improve facilities.

 

The Forum welcomed the development of the Country Park, including some rights of way being linked up to allow circular walks and the development of the English Coastal footpath which, hopefully, would be a major attraction for visitors. A member expressed disappointment that the Coastal footpath had no provision for cyclists but this was due to the cost involved. The Forum felt that a long term view was required for the provision of bridleways and cycling facilities in the area as many of the roads near the coast which were suitable for cycling years ago were no longer suitable. Also, it was noted that there was no details in the report about the type of visitors visiting the coast and that the Council should carry out some research into this matter.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the comments made by the Forum in connection with the report be noted.

129.

Countryside for All pdf icon PDF 259 KB

(This is a regular report from John Law, a representative on the South Lincolnshire and Rutland Local Access Forum. The Forum is asked to consider any actions requested in the report)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Forum received a report from John Law in connection with the various activities he was involved in which affected the Local Access Forums.

 

The Forum's attention was drawn to actions required either by the Forum or officers, including a request that members should inform John Law if they wished to get involved in the Choice Unlimited Event at the Festival Gardens, Spalding and to ask Chris Miller to investigate whether improvements to the path at Mareham Marshes could be made to increase the path width back to a minimum of one metre and to reduce puddling.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the various actions identified in the report be noted.

130.

North East Lincolnshire Council's Countryside Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2 (ROWIP2) pdf icon PDF 5 KB

(To receive an update from Matthew Chaplin (Public Rights of Way Mapping Officer, North East Lincolnshire Council, on preparation of their ROWIP2)

Minutes:

The Forum received a progress report from North East Lincolnshire Council in connection with the preparation of their ROWIP2. Officers stated that the Council's survey for the Plan had closed with most responses coming from rights of way users and thirteen land owners. Officers stated that some good suggestions had been made.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the report be noted.

131.

Lincolnshire County Council's Definitive Map Modification Orders pdf icon PDF 142 KB

(A report by Catherine Beeby, Senior Definitive Map Officer (Countryside), on progress of the Council's Definitive Map Modification Orders)

Minutes:

The Forum received a report from Lincolnshire County Council on the progress of their Definitive Map Orders.

 

A member enquired about the status of the missing links research of rights of way being conducted by Colin Smith. The member was informed that there was little progress to report as Colin Smith had been indisposed. The Chairman stated that Alec Hill, a representative on the South Lincolnshire and Rutland Local Access Forum, was undertaking similar research in that area.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the report be noted.

132.

North East Lincolnshire Council's Definitive Map Modification Orders pdf icon PDF 7 KB

(A report by Matthew Chaplin, Public Rights of Way Mapping Officer, which provides an update of the Council's Modification Orders)

Minutes:

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

 

RESOLVED

 

That the report be noted.

133.

Lincolnshire County Council's Progress of Public Path Orders pdf icon PDF 101 KB

(A report by Catherine Beeby, Senior Definitive Map Officer (Countryside), on progress of the Council's Public Path Orders)

Minutes:

The Forum received a report from Lincolnshire County Council in connection with the progress of its Public Path Orders.

 

The Chairman referred to a Public Path Order being made in the Kirby on Bain area of East Lindsey in which a development had thrown up obstruction issues on the path in question. The Chairman stated that the issues had been reported, the necessary repairs carried out and urged members to report these sort of issues to the Council. The Council was thanked for carrying out the repairs.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the report be noted.

134.

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

(A report by Matthew Chaplin, Public Rights of Way Mapping Officer, on progress of the Council's Public Path Orders)

Minutes:

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

 

Officers stated that with regard to Waltham FP42 the Council had agreed in principle to the removal of the Sub Station and as the Sub Station was brand new its new location was not expected to meet any objections.  With regard to Stallingborough FP21 a report on the closure of the current footpath was due to be submitted to the Council's Planning Committee.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the report be noted.

135.

Date and Time of the Next Meeting

(The next meeting of the Forum has been arranged for Tuesday 3 July 2018 at the Village Hall, Huttoft. Please note there will be an opportunity to walk some of the new footpaths in the Coastal Country Park at 2.00pm and then return to the Village Hall for the meeting proper at 3.15pm, or whichever is later, depending on the time taken to complete the walk) 

Minutes:

The next meeting was arranged for 2.00pm on Tuesday 3 July 2018 at Huttoft Village Hall. There would be an opportunity to walk some of the newly diverted footpaths in the Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park at this meeting.

 

 
 
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