Agenda and minutes

In the absence of the Chair and Deputy Chair, Elliott Lorimer, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Manager, Lancashire County Council, took the meeting.

Apologies were presented on behalf of the Committee members and officers as detailed above.

Jemma Parkinson and James Cullen from United Utilities gave a presentation to the Committee on Keeping the North West Flowing whilst the refurbishment of a major watercourse was carried out.

United Utilities will be carrying out investigation work as it prepares to embark on a project to replace six tunnel sections of the Haweswater Aqueduct during summer 2019 with ground surveys currently taking place to determine the scale of the project.  Two sections of the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty would be affected at Bowland Fells (south of Wray) and Marl Hill, Waddington and South Newton (Ribble Valley).  Refurbishment work was also planned at Hodder as well and this scheme was likely to occur earlier than expected and further information on this was requested to be brought to a future meeting.

Timescales for the work was that it is likely to last for around two weeks in each location and water supplies would be unaffected during the investigation, which would also take place in Hyndburn and Rossendale districts.

Previous repair work that had been carried out in 2016 had rectified some issues with the tunnel lining however the quality of the concrete used when the tunnels were first constructed meant that there remained a risk to water quality and disruption of supplies if further improvements were not made.

The stretch of the tunnel due to be replaced at Marl Hill runs for 11 miles and the section beneath the Bowland Fells extends for four miles.

Following the investigation work, formal public engagement was likely to take place between 2020 and 2022, with the project itself beginning the following year and continuing until 2028.

Concern was raised with regards security lighting and plant equipment on-site of the project and United Utilities confirmed that talks were already taking place with landowners and that they would ensure that security lighting at night was kept to a minimum.

Discussions were also taking place with Natural England and leaflets had been shared with Landowners.  It was also requested that these leaflets be shared with Parish Councils in the affected areas also.

United Utilities confirmed that work could not take place inside the existing tunnels.  Technology does not exist to repair the issue, and that is why United Utilities were having to replace the tunnels.

The Committee requested that it be kept up to date with the works which would help with queries they may receive from the public.

Resolved:  i)  That further information be brought to a future meeting on the planned work scheduled for Hodder.

ii)  That the Committee be kept informed on the progress of the works at Haweswater Aqueduct.

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 and non-pecuniary interests.

Resolved:  That the Minutes of the meeting held on 1 March 2019 were agreed as a correct record.

Elliott Lorimer, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Manager, updated the Committee that following approval at the last Joint Advisory Committee meeting on 1 March 2019, the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan was now in the process of being adopted within District Councils as well as Lancashire County Council.  Timings for adoption would be impacted due to the local elections and possibly the European elections.  Elliott explained that Defra would be understanding due to these taking place.

Matt Upton, United Utilities, updated the Committee on work that had been ongoing in partnership with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.  It was looking a promising year with hen harriers and birds of prey.  Peregrines were also looking favourable too.

Repairs had been carried out on Salter Fell Track and some further work was proposed.  Comments were raised with regards the filling of the track when it was not a public road and only accessible by motorbikes and that United Utilities should let people know who keyholders were in case of emergencies.

Resolved:  That Matt Upton, United Utilities would look into the possibilities of keyholder details being shared.

Matt also reported that there was lots of planning taking place around wildfire prevention following last year's heatwave and moorland fires and people were proactively involved alongside the Fire Service.

Nicky Nook had been very busy and Matt was looking for connections between United Utilities and the Council.  There were some useful contacts and these needed to be shared.

Resolved:  That Alison Boden, Wyre Borough Council and Matt Upton, United Utilities, would discuss the sharing of useful contacts.

Alison Boden, Wyre Borough Council reported on work that the River Wyre Partnership had been doing on the river works to protect the river embankment and that they were currently working on an Integrated Catchment Draft Plan.  Defra and the Environment Agency were developing an Integrated Catchment Management Plan and were working with Wyre Borough Council and United Utilities on this.

Elliott Lorimer, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Manager reported that the Integrated Catchment Plan had been reflected in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan.

Alison also informed the Committee that various volunteer days, public events and the walking festival had boosted visitor economy, health and wellbeing and raised awareness of the environment.

Councillor Ian Thompson reported that within the Craven area, there was currently a trial being carried out with North Yorkshire Countryside Access Service now having the authority to carry out any minor repair works to footpaths and if it was found to be anything other than a minor repair, then to report it to the landowner to correct and then Craven District Council would go back to inspect the work carried out by the Landowner.

Resolved:  That Elliott Lorimer, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Manager would pass this information on to Sarah Dornan to make her aware of the trial being carried out by Craven District Council.

David Porter, Lancaster City Council, informed the Committee that the Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Development Plan had been adopted by South Lakeland District Council at a meeting on 28 March 2019.  It came into effect from that date and forms part of the South Lakeland District Council Development Plan.  Hopefully through publicity the plan would also reach other Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty for them to replicate within their areas.  A copy of the plan can be found here.

David also reported that as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Elliott Lorimer, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Manager, presented the revised and updated budget for 2019/20 which took into account the protected Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty funding settlement agreed by Defra in January 2019.  Minor adjustments had been made to salaries and on-costs to reflect the local authority pay increase for 2019/20.

The budget allowed £61,971 for an annual programme of projects to help deliver the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan.  It was important to re-emphasis that the "projects" funding would continue to be used as match-funding to attract additional matched funding to the Partnership to help deliver the Management Plan.

Resolved:  That the Committee noted the revised Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty budget for 2019/20.

(a)  Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Unit Activity Report

Including presentation on headline achievements over the last six months.

(Report to be tabled at the meeting)

(b)  Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Unit Business Plan 2019/20

(Verbal report)

a)  Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Unit Activity Report

Hetty Byrne, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Sustainable Tourism Officer, presented the Team Report to the Joint Advisory Committee which is attached to these minutes.  Activities reported on were from when the Committee last met in October 2018 to 16 April 2019.

With regards promoting the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty it was felt that more signage was needed on major roads ie A59.  This could be a development opportunity to work with partners and look at funding this together.

Resolved:  That Elliott Lorimer would look into opportunities involving partners on how to further promote the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

b)  Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Unit Business Plan 2019/20

Elliott Lorimer, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Manager reported that Business Plan was being revised to work alongside the Management Plan so they complimented each other.  Once the Business Plan was complete, a draft copy would be circulated to the Committee for comment.

Resolved:  That Elliott Lorimer, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Manager would circulate the draft Business Plan 2019/20 to the Committee when it was available.

(Report to be tabled at the meeting).

Hetty Byrne, AONB Sustainable Tourism Officer gave an update on the Pendle Hill Landscape Partnership.  Year 1 of activity was now complete and most of the 14 projects were now up and running and making a positive impact on the landscape and heritage.  Further details of activities carried out in Year 1 and highlights for year 2 can be found at www.pendlehillproject.com.

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.

Champion Bowland

The Chair had recently received a letter from Champion Bowland inviting the Area of Outstanding Beauty to become a member of Charitable Bowland.  The membership would convey no voting rights nor require any financial subscription.

Resolved:  That the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Joint Advisory Committee agreed to become a member of Charitable Bowland.

Members are asked to consider the following provisional dates for future meetings of the Committee:

Thursday, 31 October 2019 (Preston venue tbc)

Thursday, 23 April 2020 (Craven venue tbc)

The Committee noted that the next meetings would be held on:

Thursday, 31 October 2019 (Preston venue tbc)

Thursday, 23 April 2020 (Craven venue tbc)