Agenda and minutes

The Chair, County Councillor Albert Atkinson, welcomed all to the meeting, round table introductions were made.

Apologies for absence were noted as above.

It was reported to the Committee the sad news that former Committee member Robert Harrison had passed away.  The Committee asked that their condolences be passed on to Mr Harrison's family.

The meeting began with an introduction to Bentham from the Chair of Bentham Town Council, Thomas Marshall, who briefly outlined the significance of Bentham (Higher and Lower) to the Forest of Bowland and surrounding areas.

Hen Harriers

Stephen Murphy from Natural England gave a presentation on Hen Harriers.  Stephen firstly talked about the history of Hen Harriers and explained that the species was lost from mainland Britain at the end of the 19^th century.  Following the second World War the species was re-colonised into Britain, particularly in Northern England in the 1960's, up to 25 pairs of Hen Harriers were in Britain in the 1970's and 1980's.

A Hen Harriers recovery project was started in 2002, with the population down 22% in recent years.  There was a severe decline in numbers in 2009.  It is thought that human persecution is responsible for some of the decline.

Efforts are being made to encourage Hen Harriers to breed in England, and specifically the Forest of Bowland, with a lot of the land within the Forest of Bowland having to potential to home a lot more pairs of Hen Harriers.

Work is being done by northern Protected Landscapes Group, RSPB and Local Raptor Study Groups to assist with increasing the population of Hen Harriers.  A Northern England Raptors Forum has developed a Breeding Season Response Protocol to ensure all key stakeholders can respond quickly and effectively.

Jude Lane (RSBP) also explained that, presently, there are a pair of Hen Harriers in the area and their nest is under 24hr surveillance / protection, it is hoped that they will be able to successfully breed.

The Committee noted the presentation and thanked Stephen and Jude for attending and providing such a detailed update regarding the Hen Harriers population.

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.

None

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 10^th February 2014 be approved as an accurate record.

None

Verbal update.

Nick Osborne, Forest of Bowland AONB, provided a brief update on the 2014/15 Budget.  It was noted that there are no changes to the Budget, but that the offer made from DEFRA of £208,143 which was reported to the previous Committee meeting had now been accepted.

Resolved: The Committee noted the verbal update regarding the Budget for 2014/15 and that the offer from DEFRA had been accepted.

A number of AONB Partners provided verbal updates regarding activities taking place in the Forest of Bowland.  A Walking Festival was planned in the Wyre.  An Outdoor Activities brochure was also being produced for the year.  It was also reported that Wyre Council are working in partnership with the Environment Agency to set up a Wyre River Catchment Partnership called 'Wyre Waters'.

It was also reported that in North Yorkshire the Craven Local Biodiversity Steering Group is winding down, it willmove into the North Yorkshire and York Local Nature Partnership.

a.  AONB Report – presentation on headline achievements over the last six months

b.  AONB Unit Business Plan 2014/15

AONB Report – Presentation on headline achievements over the last six months

Sandra Silk, Forest of Bowland AONB, outlined all the projects as set out in the report (circulated).  This included Bowland Hay Time Project, Network for Nectar, Wolf Fell Peat Resoration and Public Access Improvements, Priority Peat and EU Life Bid, Undergrounding for Visual Amenity Programme, BowlandRevealed, the AONB 50^th anniversary arts programme, Champion Bowland, Bowland Experience, Sustainable Tourism, Sustainable Development Fund, Stony Fold Farm Educational and Tramper Access, Festival Bowland 2014, Forest of Bowland AONB 50^th Anniversary Launch, Real Ale Guide to Bowland, A Leap in the Park, Garstang / River Wyre Access for All Path and Monitoring promoted routes across Bowland.

The Committee were pleased to note the number of projects taking place, and thanked all who have contributed to the success of the projects.

The AONB Unit Business Plan for 2014 – 2017 was also circulated to the Committee which provided an update on activity progress since the last meeting of the Committee.

Resolved: That the update on headline achievements in the last six months

AONB Unit Management Plan 2014/19

Elliott Lorimer, Forest of Bowland AONB, briefly explained that following approval of the final draft Forest of Bowland AONB Management Plan 2014/19 at the February 2014 Committee meeting, that the Plan had been approved by Natural England on 21^st March 2014.  The final designed version of the Plan had now been completed and had been uploaded to the AONB website.  At the time of preparing the update for the Committee, three partner local authorities (Lancaster City Council, North Yorkshire County Council and Preston City Council) have formally adopted the Plan.

It was reported that the remaining local authorities plan to consider the Plan for adoption during April / early May 2014.  Once notification is received from these partners of this adoption, the Plan will then be formally submitted to the Under-secretary of State for Defra with responsibility for AONBs Lord de Mauley.

David Kelly, Rambers Association, asked if some stronger wording regarding footpath restoration on blanket bog moorland could be picked up in the next version of the Plan.  It was agreed that this section would be reviewed and if necessary updated.

Resolved:  The Committee noted the update regarding the publication of the AONB Unit Management Plan for 2014/19.

Cathy Hopley, Forest of Bowland AONB, provided an update on the Pendle Hill Landscape Partnership Scheme bid toHeritage Lottery Fund.  It was reported that a number of discussions have been held with a variety of groups and organisations, a steering group has been set up and an advisory appointed to support the bid development process.  Meetings have also been held with Lancashire County Council's Outdoor Education Centre at Whitehough near Barley to discuss how we might work together to find some accommodation for an eventual project team.  Discussions are continuing with potential match funding opportunities, particularly RDPE/LEADER funds and Natural England's new agri-environment scheme which will both be launched early in 2015.

The next steps are to continue to gather evidence of needs and issues, but also to begin to pull together project ideas which will begin to build up a programme of activity.  To this a number of consultation events will be held in the Pendle Hill area during June 2014 to which Committee members will receive an invitation.  A initial draft project proposal will be presented for consideration at the next JAC meeting in October 2014. 

Resolved: That the update regarding the Pendle Hill Landscape Partnership Scheme – Heritage Lottery Fund bid be noted.

To be tabled at the meeting.

Elliott Lorimer, Forest of Bowland AONB, provided an update on the AONB's 50^th Anniversary celebrations.  Various events have been arranged throughout the Forest of Bowland to celebrate the 50^th Anniversary, this began with the launch event and will continue with various events, including picnic days, gala dinner, Champion Bowland events, attendance at agricultural shows and other events.  Members of the Committee were encouraged to attend events and promote them as appropriate.

Resolved: That the update regarding the 50^th Anniversary of the AONB be noted.

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.

None

·  tbc Thursday 9th October 2014 (Ribble Valley)

·  tbc Thursday 23^rd April 2015 (Lancaster district)

It was noted that the next meetings will be held on Thursday 9^th October 2014 (Ribbley Valley venue TBC) and Thursday 23^rd April 2015 (Lancaster District venue TBC).