Present

Devon County Council

Councillors Boyd, Dezart, Eastman, Julian and Parsons

Devon Association of Parish Councils

Councillor Benton

Apologies

Councillors P Pennington and Tabor (Torridge District Council)

*1 Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman

RESOLVED

(a) that Councillor Boyd be elected Chairman;

(b) that Councillor Eastman be elected Vice-Chairman.

*2 Minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the former Locality Committee meeting held on 13 June 2011 be signed as a correct record.

*3 Future arrangements

The Locality Development Officer commented on the possible exploration of future arrangements for the conduct of business by and behalf of this Committee, including, for example, the formation of a local forum with wider representation involving the County, District and Parish Councils and other stakeholders; the Locality Officer would discuss proposals with members in due course.

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

(Mr Rayner, a local resident, attended and spoke to this item at the request of the Committee).

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 AONB and received a presentation on the review by 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 likely impact on the AONB of the proposed Atlantic Array which was subject to determination by the Secretary of State in December 2014 following wide local consultation and examination in public and to the possibility of inclusion of parish plans (as supplementary documents). Members also referred to the impact of climate change on the shore line and to the Shore Line Management Plan (referred to the AONB Plan), available on the Internet at http://www.ndascag.org/SMPnd.html

It was MOVED by Councillor Brenton, SECONDED by Councillor Eastman 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 line with the Council s Constitution in the Spring of 2014.

*5 County Council Cabinet Forward Plan

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 2 pm and finished at 2.55pm

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