Agenda item

To inform members of the role the Joint Advisory Committee to play in the AONB Management Plant preparation and reviewprocess.

The report was submitted by the Llŷn AONB Officer and Principal Advisor for Designated Landscapes, Natural Resources Wales.

Members were reminded that it was Cyngor Gwynedd's responsibility to prepare and review a Management Plan for the AONB in accordance with the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. Despite this, it was stressed that the Joint Committee had an important advisory role in the preparation and review of the Management Plan including:

·       Advising on the preparation and implementation of a Management Plan for the AONB

·       Monitoring and evaluating progress within the Management Plan's operational programme on an annual basis and regularly review the Plan itself.

It was explained that the Authority must follow guidance in preparing and reviewing the Management Plan. Attention was drawn to the guidelines issued by the Countryside Council for Wales but it was explained that they were now out of date. It was explained that Natural Resources Wales was a statutory adviser for the Welsh Government on landscape designations (AONBs and National Parks). It was ensured that Natural Resources Wales had commissioned a 'Land Use Consultants' company to review and update these guidelines to enable them to be suitable for areas of outstanding natural beauty and National Parks in Wales. It was highlighted that the guidelines aimed to ensure that Management Plans:

·       Led, planned and managed transformational change

·       Concurred with relevant policies and legislation

·       Engaged with stakeholders throughout the process

It was confirmed that the new guidelines for the Management Plan would intertwine national requirements and priorities of the local area.

It was ensured that Natural Resources Wales were eager to assist Officers and the Joint Committee through the management plan review process.

During the discussion, the following observations were noted:

Concern was raised that the Land Use Consultants company was London-based and it was asked how it was ensured that local priorities were being met within the guidelines. It was explained by the Principal Advisor for Designated Landscapes that the company had been commissioned by tender to develop the guidelines due to a lack of capacity within the team at Natural Resources Wales. It was ensured that the company had extensive experience of completing policy work in the area of designated landscapes in Wales and beyond. It was emphasised that they were a suitable company for the work and had received clear guidance from Natural Resources Wales on managerial, partnership and local matters throughout the process. It was explained that the Joint Advisory Committee and Llŷn AONB Officers had a role in ensuring that the Management Plan intertwined the guidance with Llŷn's priorities and needs.

The increasing pressure on climate change issues was discussed noting that the Welsh Government had recently re-considered forestry and biodiversity plans in the Sustainable Farming Plan. It was considered on what basis these issues were given great emphasis within the planning. In response to the comments, the Principal Advisor for Designated Landscapes stressed that climate change was leading to constant challenges across Wales. It was explained that striving to solve these challenges was a priority as it also conserved and restored nature in doing so.

Enquiries were made about Sites of Special Scientific Interest – the Principal Advisor for Designated Landscapes noted that he was not dealing with this issue but he would ask at NRW who could respond to queries about the matter.

A timetable to create the Management Plan was discussed stating that the current plan aimed to be operational between 2015 and 2020 but the timing had slipped resulting in it being operational from 2017 to 2025. It was asked whether it was possible to have a Management Plan that was in place for 10 years to avoid such slippages. In response, the Principal Advisor for Designated Landscapes confirmed that there was no barrier to Management Plans being operational for extended periods, but stressed the importance to keep it under constant review and ensure it received due attention within the Local Development Plan. The Planning Policy Team Leader elaborated that the base date for a new Local Development Plan was 2024 - 2039 and envisaged that the plan would be adopted in 2027.

It was enquired whether there was assurance that the Welsh language received due attention within the guidelines, reminding members that the Llŷn AONB had decided not to use the 'National Landscapes' title in the future and was undertaking work to ensure that the Welsh language was central in all aspects of the area. In response, the Principal Advisor for Designated Landscapes confirmed that Land Use Consultancy's work had already ended as the guidelines had been produced. It was accepted that the Welsh language was central to all operations of the Llŷn AONB and Cyngor Gwynedd and this was expected to continue with the formulation of a new Management Plan that reflected this. It was suggested to develop an impact report on the Welsh language as the Plan was developed, to look to see if there were additional measures that could be taken to protect the language and strengthen existing arrangements.

          DECISION

          To accept the report, noting the observations made during the discussion.