To consider the report of the Llŷn AONB Service Manager.
Minutes:
Submitted – the report of the Llŷn
AONB Service Manager providing an update on the work of updating and reviewing
the AONB Management Plan. Members were guided through four draft chapters of Part
2 of the management plan, 'Clean Environment and Tranquility',
'Habitats and Wildlife', 'Work, Produce and Skills' and 'People and
Communities' which was appended to the report.
Attention was drawn to
the fact that these were the final chapters of the draft Plan to be considered.
It was reported that the next step would be to create an action plan to
coincide with the policies and bring all materials together to create a
complete revised Management Plan in draft form. Subsequently, a public enquiry
would be held for at least six weeks before the Joint Committee reconvenes with
details of the responses and recommendations received.
Members were given the opportunity to make
observations. The following
main points were noted:-
Habitats and Wildlife
·
Page 31 - Neptune
Campaign should be referred to under the heading 'Marine species'.
·
Page 32 - not happy that CO2 emissions
are referred to under the heading 'Climate Change', climate change can be noted
but responsibility should not be placed on human activity. Of the opinion that
the sun was a big factor in climate change.
·
That the wording of policy BP5 was weaker than that
noted on page 32. Also, it was noted in the final paragraph on page 32
'...creating renewable energy on a suitable scale...';
what is meant by suitable scale should be clearly stated in the policies.
Work, Produce and skills
·
That some of the figures included in the chapter
were misleading as it would not be possible to obtain such detailed analysis
from STEAM figures. The Abersoch and Llŷn Tourism Partnerships Representative stated that
the figures should be discussed with Steven Jones (Senior Tourism Services
Officer) and that he would also be willing to assist. He added that it was
difficult to obtain concrete figures for the AONB.
People and Communities
·
Page 55 - consideration
should be given to noting, under the chapter of 'Holiday Homes and House
Prices', the need to look at the reasons why so many houses are for sale in
some specific areas of the AONB.
·
Page 56 - Fuel Poverty - direct link
between the tax on carbon and the fact that the United Kingdom had to import
fuel as new coal fired power stations were no longer allowed, policy had led to
fuel poverty among many people.
·
With regard to the order of chapters, consideration
should be given to putting this chapter at the beginning of the plan, in order
to give the chapter greater emphasis.
·
That communities were ageing and the need to
look at the way in which individuals could be supported to stay in their
communities. Even though this was not unique to the AONB, consideration should
be given to making reference to the matter.
The Llŷn AONB Service Manger stated that
observations had been received by the representative of the Campaign for the
Protection of Rural Wales on the draft chapters and that they would be
considered and incorporated into the chapters. He added that any member was
welcome to send him observations on the chapters.
It was noted that the representative had
expressed his opinion that the full plan should be submitted to the Joint
Committee before going out to consultation. A discussion took place on the
matter. In response to a question about the timetable, the Llŷn
AONB Service Manger noted that the intention was to consult on the plan during
July and to bring it to the Joint Committee in September/October with comments
made during the consultation period, and for the plan to be adopted before the
end of the year. A consensus was reached that the draft plan should come before
the Joint Committee before a public consultation.
RESOLVED:
(i)
to accept the report;
(ii)
that the Llŷn AONB Service Manager amend the draft chapters in
accordance with the comments of the Joint Committee.
(iii)
hold a meeting of the
Joint Committee to discuss the draft Management Plan before the public
consultation is held.
Supporting documents: