Present:-

Devon County Council:-

Councillors Brazil, Croad, Gilbert, Hawkins, Mumford, Rowe and Vint

Devon Association of Local Councils:-

Councillor Dredge

Apologies:-

Councillor Hart

*1 Election of Chairman

RESOLVED that Councillor Croad be elected Chairman for the ensuing year.

*2 Election of Vice-Chairman

RESOLVED that Councillor Hawkins be elected Vice-Chairman for the ensuing year.

*3 Minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 20 April 2012 be signed as a correct record.

*4 South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan Review

The Committee considered the Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation Environment (PTE/13/65 - text only | pdf PTE/13/65) seeking approval to the process for the review of the Management Plan for the South Devon AONB and received a presentation on the matter from Mr R Toogood, South Devon AONB Partnership Manager. The South Devon AONB comprised 130sq miles of coast, estuaries and countryside of the South Hams but also extended into the Plymouth and Torbay administrative areas.

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 the 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.

The AONB Management Plan Review Process had focused on discussions with partner organisations and community groups and on identifying important trends and changes. Scoping exercises had suggested the following key issues in the South Devon AONB:

coastal and marine management including estuaries;

biodiversity and habitat adaptation;

rural development and planning, including changing population demographics and loss of rural services;

changing recreational patterns and pressures;

food, farming and land management.

It was MOVED by Councillor Croad, SECONDED by Councillor Rowe 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 South 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 line with the Council s Constitution, in the Spring of 2014.

*5 Devon Association of Local Councils

Councillor Dredge reported on recent business of the Devon Association of Local Councils.

*DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT

The meeting started at 11.55am and finished at 12.25pm.

The Minutes of the South Hams Locality (County) Committee are published on the County Council s Website at:-