Agenda item

To consider the report of the Llŷn AONB Service Manager.

Submitted – the report of the Llŷn AONB Service Manager presenting the amended draft AONB Management Plan for the attention of the Joint Committee in accordance with the decision made at the previous meeting to discuss it before holding a public consultation.

 

It was explained that chapters Part 1 and 2 of the plan had appeared before the Joint Committee for observations over a number of meetings. The complete amended plan before the joint committee included the Action Plan, namely the actions and detailed projects intended to be delivered over the coming years.  

 

The Joint Committee was asked to consider the draft amended Management Plan, suggest changes or improvements and accept the draft amended plan as the basis for public consultation. 

 

It was noted that following the public consultation the intention was to return to the Joint Committee with details of the responses received and recommendations to change the Plan. 

 

Members were given the opportunity to make observations. individual members noted the following main points:

·         The need to update information in the Plan;

·         A member enquired about the lifespan of the Plan, noting that it was a plan for the period from 2015 to 2020; but that it would not be adopted until 2017;

·         Including photographs and graphs in the Plan would liven it up and make it easier to read; 

·         In terms of tourism figures, the 2011 STEAM figures had been included but the 2015 figures were available. Attention had been drawn at the previous meeting to the fact that the figures were misleading as such a detailed analysis could not be obtained;

·         That consideration should be given to making more reference to the Coast Path; it attracted more people to the area and referring to the path would place pressure on the need to invest in other paths, e.g. circular paths;

·         That the references made in the Plan to the Joint Local Development Plan (JLDP) should be increased and that reference should be made to Policy AMG1 which referred to the AONB Management Plan;

·         Reference was made to a number of studies in the Plan, would it be possible to include a bibliography?

·         Botwnnog had not been included on the AONB map;

·         It should be noted when wind turbines were discussed that the JLDP placed a 15 metre height restriction and a summary should be included of the number of wind turbines that had been granted planning permission;

·         In terms of invasive plants, had Himalayan Balsam (Jumping Jack) been identified?

·         Concern about the cumulative impact of demolishing and building a new house as such planning applications were submitted often. Would it be possible for the Plan to refer to the need to protect houses from being demolished in places such as Abersoch?

·         Concern about the cumulative impact of developments and the need to discuss with caravan park owners  the way forward in the context of screening and being in-keeping with the area before they ruined the draw that attracted visitors to the area;

·         That the Rollback Rights as exist in England should be explored in the context of coast paths falling into the sea - the current process in Wales was long-winded and an all-important resource was being lost. Need to pressurise Welsh Government;

·         There was a need to be careful in respect of extending Welsh Government's rights in enforcement on coastal land because of the impact on landowners, including the implications of the responsibilities of accountability and the impact of dogs disturbing stock; 

·         In the context of policy CP 6 “Promote new affordable homes to meet proven local need, as long as schemes, designs and materials are in-keeping with the AONB's environment”, the Council should ensure that the income received as a result of the tax premium on second homes in the area stays in Pen Llŷn to provide affordable housing and provide assistance to young people to buy a house in the area.

 

In response to the above, the officers noted:

·         The content would be updated before the draft plan was released for public consultation;

·         That Welsh Government was eager for AONB plans to run in parallel but enquiries would be made about the lifespan of the plan; 

·         Photographs would be added to the Plan to make it a lighter read and possibly there would be an opportunity to draw-up a concise and easier to read document;

·         After receiving observations at the previous meeting, a few changes had been made in terms of tourism figures. The warning about the figures was noted and the information would be updated with the 2015 figures;

·         A bibliography would be included;

·         That potential projects had been included in the action plan under BP 6 “Target indigenous and non-indigenous invasive species and raise awareness and methods of treatment and eradication”. There was a responsibility on landowners to prevent them from spreading; Himalayan Balsam was not included in the Weeds Act 1959;

·         That the chapter "Historic Environment" dealt with the need to maintain and protect historic buildings and protect the design and use of suitable materials.  Planning permissions were a matter for the Planning Service;

·         That the need to carry out research in terms of the cumulative impact of developments could be included in the action plan;

·         An action could be noted in the action plan in order to investigate 'Rollback Rights' and contact Welsh Government. Welsh Government was currently undertaking a consultation where reference was made to the coast and extending open land to the coast. As part of the Council's response to the consultation, it was noted that England's experience in the field should be looked at;

·         The Joint Committee’s request, that the Council use the income received as a result of the tax premium on second homes in the area should be kept in Pen Llŷn to provide affordable housing and assistance for young people to buy a house in the area, would be noted as an action.

 

The representative of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales noted that he had further observations on the Management Plan and that he would forward them to the Llŷn AONB Service Manager. In response, the Llŷn AONB Service Manager noted that he would appreciate receiving further observations and he thanked the National Trust Representative for the observations already received. 

 

RESOLVED:

(i)     that the Llŷn AONB Service Manager incorporates the observations of members and further observations of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales Representative in the draft amended Management Plan;  

(ii)    to accept the draft amended Plan as a basis for the public consultation.