Agenda and minutes

Resolved:  County Councillor Albert Atkinson and County Councillor Mrs Susie Charles were appointed Chair and Vice-Chair respectively for the 2016/2017 Municipal Year.

Before the meeting commences proper, a presentation of 'Landscapes for Life' awards to Tarja Wilson and Dave Padley will be made by the Chair.

County Councillor Albert Atkinson, welcomed all to the meeting.  Round the table introductions were made and members of the public were welcomed.

Apologies for absence were noted as above.

Presentation

The Chair of the Committee presented Tarja Wilson and Dave Padley of the Forest of Bowland AONB Unit with National Association of AONB 'Landscapes for Life' long service awards.

The Committee joined with the Chair in thanking both Tarja and Dave for their long and valuable service and wished them well for the future.

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 declared.

The JointAdvisory Committeeis askedto approvethe attached constitution,membership andterms of reference for2016/17.

Resolved:  The Committee approved the Constitution, Membership and Terms of Reference for 2016/2017.

The Committee is asked to consider approving the minutes of the meeting held on 21 April 2016.

Resolved:  The Minutes of the meeting held on 21 April 2016 were approved as an accurate record and signed by the Chairman

A number of AONB Partners provided verbal updates regarding activities taking place in the Forest of Bowland including:

Wyre Borough Council:

Alison Boden informed the meeting of the various initiatives and activities taking place in the Wyre area of Bowland. These included working with young people from Lancaster and Morecambe College to help improve access and habitats along the River Wyre. The Council had also enlisted the help of the Ramblers Association to identify and report on issues associated with public rights of way.

Photographs were circulated showing examples of the work carried out by volunteers.

Plans for the next Garstang Walking Festival were well underway, with around 50 walks and events having been organised.  The Festival dates will be 6^th to 14^th May 2017.

Craven District Council:

Councillor Ian Thompson described the work being undertaken by volunteers in the Lower Wharfedale area and advised that a further phase of works was planned.

Friends of Bowland:

Marilyn Pilkington informed the meeting that the 'Friends' had organised 24 practical task days which involved hedge planting, balsam clearance and woodland management etc. The 'Friends' had also organised 5 guided walks and more walks and task days were planned for 2017.  It was reported that links to forthcoming activities were available on the Friends of Bowland website at http://forestofbowland.com/Friends-Bowland

Environment Agency

Helen Dix explained that the EA were supporting the development of a programme of improvements works across the Ribble catchment in partnership with Ribble Rivers Trust. These included fish passages, woodland and wetland management, flood risk management and an initiative linking landscape to water at various sites in the Bolton By Bowland area, including Bashall Brook and Sabden Brook

Resolved:  That the AONB Partner updates be noted.

Elliott Lorimer presented a report on the Revised Estimates 2016/2017 and Revenue Budget 2017/2018. 

The revised estimates took account of an estimated reduction in salary costs due to the secondment of the Development and Funding Officer and additional funding which had been obtained to support the delivery of projects within the area.

Elliott also drew attention to the Revenue Budget 2017/18 on page 15 of the agenda papers.

Resolved: That:

i)  The 2016/17 Revised Estimates be noted.

ii)  The 2017/18 Revenue Budget as set out in the report be approved.

iii)  That the funding authorities be requested to make appropriate provision in their revenue budgets.

The Committee received the AONB Unit report which provided updates on a whole range of issues and projects drawn from delivery of the AONB management plan.

In addition to the issues raised in the report, the Committee discussed the following matters:

·  The plight of black grouse - It was expected that a bid would be submitted to the Lancashire Environment Fund to help fund the translocation of black grouse from their core breeding areas further north in the Pennines to Bowland.

·  The Northern Upland Chain Local Nature Partnership (LNP) has been working local hill farmers in Bowland to establish a Northern Hill Farmers Panel to represent upland farming at a national level and to influence government policy.

·  The plight of hen harriers and Peregrine falcons - The meeting was advised that hen harriers had failed to nest successfully in Bowland in 2016.  In addition, this year was the first time that Peregrine falcons had failed to nest in the Bowland in over a decade.

Resolved:  That the report be noted

Cathy Hopley, Development Officer, presented an update on the Pendle Hill Landscape Partnership.

The meeting was informed of the objectives of the development phase of the project and the progress to date.

Cathy also provided an update on the current development commissions, match funding and programme and project development work.

Jayne Ashe, a graduate trainee was introduced to the Committee. The Committee heard that Jane would be assisting with the volunteering group, supporting audience development and outreach work and developing the Story Map project.

It was noted that a programme Steering Group had been set up with Cathy, Jayne and Elliott providing technical advice and support to the Partnership Board on key issues around funding and partnership working.

Resolved:- That the report 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.

There were no items of urgent business.

The proposed dates andlocations ofthe meetingsto beheld in 2017are:

-  Thursday 27April inCraven District

-  Thursday 19October inRibble Valley

Resolved: That future meetings of the Committee be held on the following dates:

Thursday 20 April 2017 at a Bentham Sports Pavilion, Burton in Lonsdale.

Thursday 19 October 2017 at a venue to be arranged in Ribble Valley