Issue - meetings

To submit a report by the Head of Regulation and Economic Development.

It was resolved to recommend the new Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan (2023-2028) for the Full Council’s approval.

The report of the Head of Regulation and Economic Development incorporating the final draft of the Area of Outstanding Beauty Management Plan was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

The report was presented by Councillor Neville Evans, Portfolio Member for Leisure, Tourism and Maritime who outlined the background and statutory requirements on local authorities which administer AONBs including the preparation, publication and review every five years of management plans for their areas. The draft AONB Management Plan has been subject to a six-week consultation process and a summary of the responses received and the subsequent changes to the final plan are outlined in the Consultation Report at Annexe B. The AONB Management Plan is a cross cutting document and aligns fully with the new Council Plan and its six strategic objectives which it will help deliver. It is also integral to the people, communities and businesses within the AONB which as well as being an area of outstanding natural beauty and special qualities is also a dynamic and working landscape.

The Head of Regulation and Economic Development advised that the final draft AONB Management Plan if endorsed by the Executive will be submitted to the Full Council for approval and will also be presented to the AONB Joint Advisory Committee as the forum which oversees the AONB and delivery of the plan whose membership reflects the broad spectrum of interests involved with the AONB and its management. He thanked all those who had taken the time to respond to the public consultation confirming that all responses had received careful consideration.

Councillor Douglas Fowlie, Chair of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee summarised the Committee’s discussions with regard to the draft AONB Management Plan from its meeting held on 20 June, 2023. Points raised by the Committee included the robustness of the consultation process and the extent to which the responses had influenced the final plan. Questions were asked about the purpose of the AONB Management Plan and how it aligns with the new Council Plan. The risks and challenges to realising of the Plan’s priorities were discussed as were the mechanisms for monitoring its delivery. Assurances were sought about the role of the Plan in the planning consent process and consideration was given to the partnership working necessary to the delivery of the plan. Communication was seen as essential in this regard. Having scrutinised the draft Plan and the further information provided at the meeting the Corporate Scrutiny Committee had resolved to recommend the draft AONB Management Plan to the Executive.

The Executive’s members noted the response to the consultation and considered that although the volume of responses could have been greater those submitted were informative and constructive and had recognised the comprehensiveness of the plan. Members looked forward to the resulting action plan and its implementation.

It was resolved to recommend the new Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan (2023-2028) for the Full Council’s approval.