To appoint a Chair and Vice Chair for the municipal year 2015 – 2016.

Agreed that Ray Fairchild is appointed Chair and Ian Stewart is appointed as Vice-Chair for the Plymouth Local Access Forum for the municipal year 2015 - 2016

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

The following declaration of interest was made in accordance with the Code of Conduct –

The Forum will be asked to confirm the minutes of the 16 March 2015.

Agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on 16 March 2015 are confirmed as a correct record, with the following amendments -

Minute 48 (b) – there were 3 sections to the footpath and this was not currently on the definitive map.

Minute 48 (d) – that Dartmoor National Trust should be referred to Dartmoor National Parks Authority.

The Chair reported that the interviews for positions on the LAF had taken place.  Two LAF members would not be continuing their membership Stephanie Rodgers and John Emery.

Agreed that a letter of thanks to be sent to Stephanie Rodgers and John Emery.

Forum Members will be provided with a verbal update on the LAF.

Robin Pearce provided Members with an update on the recent changes within his team.

Members were advised that -

(a)        Robin was now acting as the Smarter Choices Manager as maternity leave cover and was now responsible for delivering the strategic cycle network, the Plymotion project, Public Rights of Way and Travel Planning;

(b)        the Rights of Way post was currently vacant and was being advertised as a secondment opportunity;

(c)        the Forum continues to be low on numbers. Officers continue the ongoing LAF recruitment campaign;

(d)        the Forum was advised that last year Plymotion staff knocked on 34,000 doors and were looking at higher numbers this year and would use this exercise to promote the vacant posts on the Forum.  They were also looking at targeting students during Freshers Week, libraries and targeting interest groups.

The LAF suggested that -

(e)        Councillor Sam Davey raised that Councillor Philippa Davey was a Cycling Commissioner and could also promote the work of the Forum and the current vacancies.  Have Your Say Meetings could also be used to raise this issue as well as having notices displayed along the Co-operative Way.

Members were provided with an update on the Forum’s tracking resolutions and were advised that –

(a)        Minute 41 - Contact had been made with Mr Blagdon who organises walks for disabled groups.  Mr Blagdon has agreed to attend next meeting to provide the LAF with a 10 minute presentation;

(b)        Minute 47 (1) – email sent on 1 June 2015 to Hilary Winter.  Hilary has responded to say that she is still Devon Secretary and would be organising an annual meeting of the LAF Chairs;

(c)        Minute 47 (2) – no contact made;

(d)        Minute 48 – no contact made;

(e)        Minute 50 – Kaja Curry would be undertaking Kat Deeney’s role and the LAF would be provided with an update at the September meeting on the progress of Green Space Designation;

(f)         Minute 53 – this was on-going.  Appeal for Hooe Road going to the Planning Inspectorate with one objector;

(g)        Minute 55 – on-going.

Mr Stewart highlighted to Members of the Ramblers upcoming campaign, ‘The Big Path Watch’ and queried whether the LAF could assist?  Members felt that the Ramblers had made judgements on paths and not public rights of way (PROW) and that they had a lack of understanding on what is PROW.

The following comments were made -

(a)        Members felt they could undertake their own Path Watch and this would also give Members an opportunity to meet between meetings and to keep in contact.  John Skinner was the representative and attends all Devon meetings.  Mr Pawley would ask Mr Skinner to make the links and bring further back information to the next meeting;

(b)        Mr Pawley highlighted paths for Members to look at and in particular a path near Morrisons supermarket which links to Venn Grove onto Beechfield Grove.  An application had been put forward for this to become a PROW.  The Forum discussed the merits of a Working Group to be set up in August to look at this before the next meeting.

Agreed that the LAF Secretary set up a Working Group in August for LAF Members to look at PROW from Morrisons Supermarket leading to Beechfield Grove.

To discuss and agree the Forum’s Work Programme for 2015 - 2016.

Members discussed the work programme and highlighted the following items to be considered at the September meeting –

·         LAF Recruitment Campaign

·         Local Nature Partnership

·         Plymouth Plan

·         Annual Report

·         Modification Orders Update

·         Waterways Exercise and Public Slipways Update

·         Forder Valley Update from the Working Group and Presentation

Mrs Hitchens highlighted the developments taking place in Forder Valley including the Forder Valley Link Road.  Robin Pearce stated that lot of work was taking place in the north of the city. The LAF and in particular Councillors felt that it was important issue for the LAF to look at this prior to the next meeting in September.

Agreed that –

1.            Robin Pearce to speak to the relevant officer regarding the Public Slipway pages on the Council’s website;

2.            The LAF Secretary to organise a Working Group in July/August 2015 to look at the developments taking place in Forder Valley, to include the working farm, housing layout, nature reserve and the Forder Valley link road;

3.            Robin Pearce to request the relevant officers progressing the capital programme schemes which impact upon the Forder Valley area to provide the LAF with a presentation at the September meeting.

The Forum will be provided with an update on the South West Coast Path.

Mr Pawley (representative for the South West Coast Path Association and Member of the LAF) reported –

(a)        that he recently carried out a condition survey of the South West Coast Path;

(b)        Mr Pawley would be meeting with Mark Owen and submitting a report on this matter; Mr Pawley’s report would be recommending improved signage at Barrack Road and Royal William Yard;

To discuss any issues arising from the April/May 2015 version of Huddle Hot Topics.

Mr Stewart highlighted that the Cornwall on-line map was very good.

To review the Plymouth Local Access Forum’s terms of reference.

Members noted the Terms of Reference.  A discussion took place on quorum which was noted in 5.11 of the Terms of Reference.  Members were advised that if the meeting wasn’t quorate, Members could continue to meet and make recommendations but those recommendations would have to be ratified when quorate.

There were no items of correspondence.

The next meeting will be held at 10.30 am on Monday 28 September 2015, at the Council House.

Members were advised that the next meeting of the LAF would take place on Monday 28 September 2015 and commence at 10.30 am.

Mr Pawley reported to the Forum that he had received a call about signage near the Asda garage on Exeter Street which simply says ‘2 to the city centre’.   Mr Pawley put forward a request that distant was used rather than timings.

Councillor Sam Davey raised Village Green applications and whether this was something the Forum looked into.  Robin Pearce reported that Town and Village Green applications appeared to be encompassed within the scope of the PLAF's remit.