Members will be asked to make any declarations of interest in respect of items on this Agenda.

The Forum will be asked to confirm the minutes of the 27 July 2009.

The Forum received the minutes of the meeting of 27 July 2009.

With regard to –

Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 27^th July 2009 be approved.

To receive reports on business which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be brought forward for urgent consideration.

The Chair raised the following under Chair’s Urgent Business –

(i)                 Oliver Marner has tendered his resignation from the LAF;

(ii)               Chair attended the SW Regional Sub Group meeting, various Chairs from Devon and Cornwall attended.

Resolved that the Chair on behalf of the LAF, write to Oliver thanking him for his contribution.

To consider any correspondence received and note any correspondence sent by the Forum.

Members received an update on the alterations to the South West Coast Path at Plymouth Yacht Haven, Oreston.  It was reported that -

·        the development has been completed and is occupied but the path had not been put in place.  This seems to be in direct conflict to planning conditions;

·        no planning enforcement action seems to have been taken yet.

The following comments were made by members of the group –

·        request that Officers obtain the planning consent and respond on what hasn’t been done;

·        the problem is not just the Coast Path, this happens all over the city.  The LAF’s advice has legal backing and we should voice our concern if the planning system is failing;

·        a Planning Officer be invited to attend at a future meeting.  The Rights of Way Officer will email LAF members on questions to be put to the Planning Officer.

Resolved that -

(1)       a letter to be sent to the Planning Committee and Head of Planning regarding the planning permission at Plymouth Yacht Haven;

(2)       a Planning Officer be invited to attend a future meeting.  The Rights of Way Officer will email LAF members on questions to be put to the Planning Officer.

To receive a verbal report from John Emery, Local Access Forum Member on the role of Plymouth Local Access Forum in Planning.

Mr Emery’s report is in response to Minute 15 of the Plymouth Local Access Forum meeting of the 27^th July 2009 and the email from the Council’s Right of Way Officer on behalf of the Chair and Vice Chair of the Plymouth Local Access Forum (PLAF) on the 1^st May 2009.  The report also highlighted the statutory responsibility of the Local Access Forum.

It was reported by Mr Emery that -

·        the forum needs to be reviewed in line with other forums;

·        assurances that the annual plan is completed;

·        the need for an independent LAF Secretary so that they can gain LAF experience;

·        we can act as a consultee on planning matters;

·        we need to be more pro-active and look at our priorities;

·        we need to operate to the Terms of Reference.

The following comments were made by members of the group –

·        attending other areas LAF meetings would be a positive training exercise;

·        unanimous disagreement on the statements surrounding the impartiality of the secretary to the Forum;

·        theLAF Secretary can change without necessarily interrupting the work of the LAF.  The Rights of Way Officer is the consistent representative of the appointing authority.  Training the LAF Secretary is an operational concern for the authority.

Resolved that a copy of Mr Emery’s report to be emailed to forum members after the meeting.

To receive Defra’s Access Newsletter – Issue 41.

Defra’s Access newsletter was noted by forum members.

To receive a report from the working group.

The Rights of Way Officer reported that the meeting of the 7 September 2009 identified paths within Plymouth shown on the Ramblers 88 map.  This information has been identified on the Council’s GIS system for internal planning uses.

To receive a report from the working group.

The future of the Planning Working Group will be discussed at a future meeting.

The next meeting will be held at 10.30 am on Monday 7^th December 2009 at the Council House.

Resolved that the next meeting of this Committee be held at 10.30 am on Monday 7^th December 2009 at the Council House.

To discuss any business that, in the opinion of the Chair, should be brought forward for urgent consideration.

The Rights of Way Officer reported that –

(i)                 the Council would be unable to supply members with copies of the maps and survey forms requested to carry their own surveys.  This was on the basis of insurance, legal and health and safety concerns;

(ii)               the work to dedicate the footpath between Beliver Estate and Coombe Farm to the lat Councillor Dennis Camp was well underway.  The LAF would be invited to any opening event.

Resolved that the Rights of Way Officer will inform forum members of the date of unveiling of the plaque.

The Chair requested that the Rights of Way Officer leave the meeting so that forum members could discuss the letter sent regarding the Ramblers Map.