Agenda and minutes

All were welcomed to the meeting, introductions made, and apologies presented on behalf of the Committee members and officers as detailed:

The following new members were welcomed:

·  James Cooper, Natural England

Alternatives for the meeting were:

Peter Wilson for Matthew Upton, United Utilities

Barrie Tyrer for Marilyn Pilkington, Friends of Bowland

Members are asked to consider any Pecuniary Interests they may have to disclose to the meeting in relation to matters under consideration on the Agenda.

There were no disclosures of pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 20 October 2023 were agreed as a correct record following the amendment at Item 2 – Appointment of Chair and Vice Chair, which should be:

"In the absence of the Chair, the Vice-Chair took the meeting".

Elliott Lorimer, Forest of Bowland AONB, Lancashire County Council provided an update on the Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme (HARP) and the progress that has been made by the Planning Authorities, Ribble Valley Borough Council and Lancashire County Council.  The Newton application was considered by Ribble Valley Borough Council's Planning Committee on 16 March 2023 to consider the application proposing works for and use of replacement section of aqueduct, including earthworks and ancillary infrastructure including: New valve house buildings within fenced compounds with permanent vehicular access provision.  With the installation of tunnel shafts, open cut connection areas at either end of the replacement section within temporary construction compounds, to include side accesses, storage areas, plant and machinery, and drainage infrastructure.  In addition, a temporary haul route with bridge over the River Ribble (as one of two options for vehicular access to the temporary construction compound); a series of local highway works together with a temporary satellite park and ride facility and a vehicle marshalling area.  The approval is subject to the planning conditions detailed in the minutes and the Board noted that the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Team will be consulted over the conditions surrounding the ecology and landscaping elements of the proposal.  The Board were informed that the MP for Ribble Valley, Nigel Evans and Newton Parish Council have requested that the decision be "called-in" by the Secretary of State for the Department of Levelling-Up Housing and Communities due to concerns that some of the assessments carried out by Ribble Valley Borough Council had not addressed issues around the major development in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).  Further details were awaited with regards to the request for 'call-in'.

The Waddington Fell Quarry application for the variation of condition 2 of planning permission 03/06/0095, to allow mineral working to continue until 31 December 2023, and final restoration to be completed by 31 December 2024 was considered by Lancashire County Council's Development Control Committee on 1 March 2023 and the Board noted that permission had been granted.  Further details of the conditions granted can be found in the minutes.

With regards to the removal of trees and hedgerows relating to the HARP proposals, the Committee were informed that a meeting had taken place between Elliott Lorimer, Forest of Bowland AONB, Lancashire County Council, United Utilities Planning Team, the Ecological Advisor and the Landscape Advisor, Lancashire County Council to look at where the trees and hedgerows had been identified for removal.  United Utilities had identified the trees on a worst-case scenario basis and that they anticipated that fewer trees and hedgerows would need to be removed once more detailed plans at the 'design and build' stage.

Resolved:  That the Committee noted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Wyre Borough Council

Alison Boden, Wyre Borough Council shared an update with the Board which would be circulated following the meeting.  The report included:

·  The Councils planning and public realm and community teams embarked upon a combined Sports Pitch Strategy and Public Open Space Audit and the development of Green Infrastructure Audit and Strategy working with contractor KPMG and leading to consultation with sports clubs and parish councils. Further work is planned for 2023/24 with keystakeholders.

·  The Wyre Coast and Countryside team continue to patrol and care for popular picnic areas, concessionary paths, public rights of ways and access areas removing litter, fly-tipping and updating site information and habitatmanagement.

·  Tree planting with the Wyre Rivers Trust team on the Caldercatchment.

·  Leaky dams in the upper Wyre catchment.

·  Helping the Garstang Millennium Greet Trust to improve and manage a gateway site to Bowland.

·  Working with Nether Wyresdale Parish Council on Scorton Millennium Way.

·  Concessionary access improvement at Holme Wood and improvements to gates on Public Rights of Way (ProW) around Grizedale Valley.

·  Brock Path repair and invasive management.

·  Farming In ProtectedLandscapes (FiPL)

·  Coast and Countryside team and volunteers and staff have worked in partnership with the Forest of Bowland Farming in ProtectedLandscapes (FiPL) team and local farmers to develop 2 projects – one in Bleasdale (near completion) and one at Cobble Hey (in development). Both projects include improving access to nature amongst other objectives.

·  Traditional boundaries at Cobble Hey.

·  Wyre Great Outdoors in Festival Bowland - In spring 2022 after a winter of more COVID restrictions people were able to take part in activities in an unrestricted way.  The first Garstang Well-being Walks were launched in May in partnership with the Ramblers Association as a weekly walk, suitable for all in the Wyre Great Outdoors.  A big commitment to deliver weekly walks.  Activity attendance records in 2022/23 show the scheme has enabled 329 attendances on guided walks and conservation days and a further 303 attendances on the Garstang Walking Festival programme – total for 2022/23 being 632.

·  The Friends of Garstang Walking Festival Garstang Walking Festival which went to back to its full 9-day programme in Spring. Which was well attended with the Claughton Estate walk proving to be very popular along with upland fell walks.  A new walk for the programme was a wildlife walk looking at the wildlife of the River Brock with the Wyre Rangers and Wyre Rivers Trust here in Bleasdale where participants had great views of Brown Hares and Lapwing as well as seeing freshwater invertebrates from the river and ponds on thefarm.

Resolved:  Sam Gorton, Democratic Services, Lancashire County Council would circulate the report from Alison Boden, Wyre Borough Council to the Committee.

Ramblers Association

David Kelly, Ramblers Association reported an issue at the Cairn section to the North East of Fair Snape Fell, Grid Ref SD59714731 where there is deep mud near the kissing gate. Elliott Lorimer, Forest of Bowland, AONB Team, commented that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Sarah Robinson, Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL), Forest of Bowland AONB Unit, Lancashire County Council provided an update on the programme which has been running from July 2021 and will end in March 2025 and forms part of the Defra post-Brexit Agricultural Transition Plan.  The Committee received a detailed presentation which was circulated after the meeting and contained further information on the following:

·  The Farming in Protected Landscapes programme

·  Who can apply?

·  Climate outcomes

·  Climate examples

·  Nature outcomes

·  Nature examples

·  People outcomes

·  People examples

·  Place outcomes

·  Place examples

·  How applications are assessed

·  Local Assessment panel

·  Funding allocation

·  Enquiries, applications and agreements

·  FiPL Programme Team

The Committee noted that funding allocation for 2023-24 is £720,766 and a further £500,000 has also been requested as 97% of the original amount is already allocated and Defra has asked if further funding could be used.  Funding allocation for 2024-25 is awaited.

In terms of enquiring, applications and agreements the Committee were informed that there had been:

221 enquiries

181 farms contacted

100 applications received

95 agreements in place

20 projects completed

75 project still live

There is currently a waiting list of 40 farms that still need contacting with only £20,000 remaining for this current year as well as the pending decision from Defra re further funding.

The Committee noted that there was a webpage for Farming in Protected Landscapes and further information can be found here: Farming in Protected Landscapes in the Forest of Bowland | Forest of Bowland AONB.

A huge thanks was noted to the Team for their work on Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme and this was echoed other Committee members around the table.

Resolved:  i)  That the Committee noted the update.

ii)  That a list of successful projects be circulated to the Committee following the meeting by Sam Gorton, Democratic Services, Lancashire County Council.

Elliott Lorimer, Forest of Bowland AONB Unit, Lancashire County Council, presented the report as set out in the agenda papers.

The report outlined the AONB Partnership Budget (Appendix A, column 3) for 2023-24 which takes account if Defra's AONB grant funding settlement, confirmation of which was received in March 2023.

The Defra AONB funding settlement for 2023-24 is £259,075, which represents a 'flat cash' rollover settlement of that received for 2023-24.

The Committee were asked to note a minor adjustment to 'Salaries, NI and Superannuation' following consultation with Lancashire County Council's Finance team on staff cost forecasts.  It should also be noted that local government pay awards for 2023-24 have yet to be agreed and this is likely to further increase these costs.  This will be reported at the Committee meeting in October 2023.

The Committee also noted that when the AONB Unit staffing, out-based premises and partnership costs are taken into account, the remaining funds allow for an annual 'Projects' programme to the value of £72,610 to assist in delivery of the AONB Management Plan.  Wherever possible, the AONB Unit will seek to use this 'Projects' programme allocation to lever in additional external funding (e.g. National Lottery Heritage Fund, Peatland Restoration Grant Scheme, private sector and landowner contributions) to deliver more.  Additional funding secured will be reported at the Committee meeting in October 2023.

Resolved:  That the Committee noted the 2023-24 revised estimates and offered comments.

Elliott Lorimer, Forest of Bowland AONB Unit, Lancashire County Council presented the AONB Team Report that had been tabled at the meeting which also included the Forest of Bowland's AONB Sustainable Tourism Symposium report.  Both reports would be circulated to Committee members following the meeting.

It was noted that the National Association had been funded by Defra to develop a branding strategy to help co-ordinate branding, logos and communications for the National Association and AONB network under the new designation title, National Landscapes.

The Committee were requested to contact officers as detailed in the report, if they had any questions/comments, requests for more information outside of the meeting.

Resolved:  i)  That the report be noted.

ii)  That a report on the branding strategy from the National Association be brought to the next Joint Advisory Committee in October 2023.

Elliott Lorimer, Forest of Bowland AONB Unit, Lancashire County Council referred to the report circulated with the agenda pack which was the scheme evaluation summary.

Any queries or further information required, please contact the Forest of Bowland, AONB Unit, Lancashire County Council.

Resolved:  That the report be noted.

Elliott Lorimer, Forest of Bowland, AONB Unit, Lancashire County Council presented the report which was circulated with the agenda on the proposed landscape heritage programme, titled "Three Counties: Lune Valley", focussed on the middle and lower reaches of the Lune catchment.

The Committee noted the implications for the AONB Partnership and noted that it is anticipated that such a commitment could be accommodated within the annual AONB 'Projects' programme available to the AONB Partnership.

It was requested that the Greta and Wenning boundaries also be considered.

Resolved:  That the Committee:

i)  Noted the report and offered comments.

ii)  Offered approval (if acceptable) for the AONB Manager to work with project partners to jointly submit a Stage 1 bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund by early August 2023.

iii)  Further updates will be brought to subsequent meetings of the Joint Advisory Committee.

An item of Urgent Business may only be considered under this heading where, by reason of special circumstances to be recorded in the minutes, the Chairman of the meeting is of the opinion that the item should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.  Wherever possible, the Chief Executive should be given advance warning of any Members' intention to raise a matter under this heading.

There were no items of urgent business.

19 October 2023 in Pendle, venue to be confirmed.

18 April 2024 in Preston district, venue to be confirmed.

19 October 2023 in Pendle district, venue to be confirmed.

18 April 2024 in Preston district, venue to be confirmed.