Present

Devon County Council

Councillors Chugg, Davis, Edgell, Edmunds, Greenslade, Mathews and Yabsley

Devon Association of Parish Councils

Councillor Cowling

Apologies

Councillors Biederman (Devon County Council) and Barker and Manuel (North Devon District Council)

*1 Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman

RESOLVED

(a) that Councillor Chugg be elected Chairman for the ensuing year;

(b) that Councillor Mathews be elected Vice-Chairman for the ensuing year.

*2 Minutes

RESOLVED that minutes of the former Locality Committee meeting held on 20 March 2012 be signed as a correct record.

*3 North Devon Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan Review

(Councillor Davis declared a personal interest in this item by virtue of being an Exmoor National Park Authority representative on the North Devon AONB Partnership)

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning, Transportation Environment (PTE/13/43 - text only | pdf PTE/13/43) seeking approval to the process for the review of the Management Plan for the North Devon Areas AONB and received a presentation on the Plan from Mr D Edgcombe, North Devon AONB Partnership Manager.

The Head of Service s Report indicated that, in line with statutory requirements, a further 5 year review of the Management Plans for each of Devon s five Areas of Outstanding National Beauty adopted in 2009 was being undertaken to ensure that the Plans remained relevant to key partners in light of changing circumstances and resources, new knowledge and lessons learnt from implementing previous plans. The County Council had set out its expectations and requirements for the reviewed Plans which reflected national guidance. AONB Partnerships were following a consistent approach to Plan development and a similar timetable; they were preparing Consultation Drafts of the reviewed Plans for approval by local authorities in the Autumn of 2013. The review process would be completed by the Spring of 2014 and when adopted final Plans would be submitted to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

A working group of the North Devon AONB Partnership had identified the following key issues; the Lawton Review (wildlife and climate change), biodiversity, national planning policy framework, development of local plans, ecosystem services approach, economic situation, and landscape pressures.

Members referred to the possibility of additional road side signage (subject to statutory DoT guidance) for the AONB and Biosphere which the Partnership Manager undertook to keep under review. Members also asked about the possibility of extension of the current boundary which the Partnership Manager explained was unlikely in view of the current economic climate and existing priorities.

It was MOVED by Councillor Chugg, SECONDED by Councillor Mathews and

RESOLVED

(a) that the process and timetable for undertaking the AONB Management Plan Review be noted;

(b) that the principles set out in the Report for the 2014-19 Management Plan for the North Devon AONB be endorsed;

(c) that the final agreement of any outstanding detailed issues for the Consultation Drafts be delegated to the Head of Planning, Transportation Environment;

(d) that the Committee note that approval to the final version of the new Management Plan would be sought from the Cabinet Member in accordance with the Council s Constitution in the Spring of 2014.

*4 Future Arrangements and County Council Forward Plan

The Committee noted that possible future arrangements for the conduct of business by and behalf of this Committees were being explored including, for example, formation of a local forum with wider representation involving the County, District and Parish/Town Councils and other stakeholders and that the Locality Officer would discuss proposals with members in due course.

Members suggested the following items for the next meeting: (a) Health and Wellbeing and the County Council s Public Health role; and (b) the Biosphere Reserve (with an invitation for the Torridge Locality Committee).

The Committee noted the Cabinet s Forward Plan which was also available at:

http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/councildemocracy/decision_making/cabinet_committee/forward_plan.htm

*DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT

The meeting started at 11. 50 am and finished at 1. 00 pm

The Minutes of the West Devon Locality Committee are published on the County Council s Website at:-