Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council House. View directions

Contact: Ross Jago, Secretary to the Local Access Forum 

Items
No. Item

33.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

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

Minutes:

Name

Minute

Reason

Interest

Councillor Browne

 

39

Previous member of the Planning Committee

Personal

Councillor Wheeler

39

Member of the Planning Committee

Personal

 

34.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 20 KB

The Forum will be asked to confirm the minutes of the 5 October 2009.

Minutes:

Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 5 October 2009 be approved.

35.

CHAIR'S URGENT BUSINESS

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

Minutes:

There were no items of Chairs urgent business.

36.

CORRESPONDENCE pdf icon PDF 6 MB

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

 

     (i)            Natural England Coastal Access Audit Report

   (ii)            Natural England No Charge Report

 (iii)            South West Local Access Forum Regional Conference summary report

 

 

Additional documents:

36a

NATURAL ENGLAND COASTAL ACCESS AUDIT REPORT

Minutes:

The Panel received the Natural England Coastal Access Audit report. It was noted that at the Eastern and Western end of the Plymouth’s coast path was highlighted red indicating there was no satisfactory, legally secure path. In response to questions from the Forum the Rights of Way officer reported that-

 

     (i)            the coastal path is designated as a national trail;

 

   (ii)            the trail in Plymouth is mostly made up of adopted highway;

 

 (iii)            the trail is managed by the rights of way officer.

 

Resolved that a letter is sent to the rights of way officer recommending a new guide for the coastal path and offering the services of the Local Access Forum in this matter.

 

36b

NATURAL ENGLAND REPORT 'NO CHARGE'

Minutes:

The forum noted the Natural England report ‘No Charge’.

36c

SOUTH WEST LOCAL ACCESS FORUM REGIONAL CONFERENCE SUMMARY REPORT

Minutes:

The forum received the summary report of the South West Local Access Forums regional conference. Eleven out of twelve LAFs were represented at the conference and points raised in the workshop were contained within the report.

 

Resolved that-

(1)   secretarial support currently provided by Plymouth City Council was sufficient and no further discussion on the matter was required;

 

(2)   theLAF would engage earlier during the policy forming process and would also perform its role of influencing the Local Area Agreement.

 

 

37.

DEFRA DRAFT GUIDANCE PATH FURNITURE pdf icon PDF 837 KB

To consider draft guidance to local authorities on path furniture (gaps, gates, stiles) in relation to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Minutes:

The forum considered draft guidance from DEFRA on path furniture. This guidance is being drafted to deal with the impact of disability discrimination legislation.

 

Resolved the forum will provide a response when formal consultation begins.

 

 

38.

LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN 3

The Panel to receive a verbal update from a Local Transport Plan Officer.

Minutes:

A Senior Transport Planner attended and provided a verbal update on the Local Transport Plan 3.

 

It was reported that-

 

     (i)            Transport officers would provide a framework on the plan making process;

 

   (ii)            Plymouth City Council formulate the plan and Amey carry out the works;

 

 (iii)            the Highway Agency are responsible for the A38/Parkway

 

  (iv)            works on the local network PCC are responsible for cannot effect the Highway Agencies network.

 

 

 

Resolved that –

 

  1. The chair and vice chair would liaise with LTP officers to become involved with the plan making process at an early stage,

 

  1. the LTP officer would provide an update every six months to the Forum.

 

 

 

39.

RIDGEWAY SCHOOL PUBLIC PATH EXTINGUISHMENT ORDER (TO FOLLOW)

The Panel to review consultation documents on the proposed Extinguishment Order. The Panel will receive a presentation from the Headteacher of Ridgeway School.

Minutes:

The forum considered a presentation from the Head Teacher of the Ridgeway School on reasons for requesting a Public Path extinguishment order. Following the presentation in response to questions, the Head teacher reported that-

     (i)            safeguarding children was difficult due to the existence of the path and had adversely affected the schools OFSTED inspection;

 

   (ii)            there had been a steep rise in incidents reported to the police which was due to CCTV installation and the ability to record more incidents;

 

 (iii)            Coombe Dean school had a similar problem and following the closure of the public footpath the number of incidents at the school sharply decreased;

 

  (iv)            Earliest buildings on the site were c. 19th century.

 

A forum member presented photographs of the site highlighting open gates and sections of fencing which had been removed from the footpath the head teacher commented that-

 

    (v)            large gaps in the fence around the footpath were required for moving a large amount of students in case of fire;

 

  (vi)            no public body had made an objection.

 

 

Resolved that a site visit would be organised for members unfamiliar with the path.

 

40.

WORKING GROUPS

40a

POTENTIAL RIGHTS OF WAY WORKING GROUP

To receive a report from the Working Group.

Minutes:

It was reported that there had not been a meeting of the Potential rights of way working group since the last meeting of the LAF.

 

Resolved that the working group would meet to discuss maps on the morning of the 15 February at 10:30 am.

40b

PLANNING WORKING GROUP

To receive a report from the Working Group.

Minutes:

The Planning working group requested that the forum members take note of orders as and when they were published in the newspaper.

41.

DEFRA ACCESS NEWSLETTER - ISSUE 42 pdf icon PDF 125 KB

To receive Defra’s Access Newsletter – Issue 42.

 

Minutes:

The DEFRA Access Newsletter was noted by the forum.

42.

BOVRIL GREAT OUTDOORS REVIVAL

To receive a verbal report on Bovril's Great Outdoors Revival campaign.

Minutes:

The Rights of Way Officer highlighted the Bovril Great Outdoors Revival Programme and encouraged members to enter should they require funding for any small scale projects. As a business, the city council was not eligible to apply.

43.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will be held on Monday 8th February 2010 at the Council House.

Minutes:

Resolved that the next meeting of the forum be held at 10:30 am on Monday 8February 2010 at the Council House.

44.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

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

Minutes:

There were no items of other business.

44a

LOCAL ISSUES

Minutes:

There were no local issues raised by the forum.

44b

INFORMATION AND NEWS

Minutes:

There were no items of information or news raised by the forum.