Agenda item

To present the report of the Head of Regulation and Economic Development.

The report of the Head of Regulation and Economic Development on the outcome of the public consultation on the Draft Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan was presented for the Committee’s consideration and comment.

Councillor Neville Evans, Portfolio Member for Leisure, Tourism and Maritime provided some background information saying that the AONB Management Plan is a statutory document which must be reviewed every five years according to set guidelines. The Plan, although it is focused on the special qualities and significance of the AONB and presents a vision for its future, is cross departmental in that it also has social, economic, cultural, linguistic, and educational significance and as such it aligns with the relevant objectives and priorities set out in the Council Plan. The draft AONB Management Plan was subject to a six-week public consultation which ran from 28 April to 9 June, 2023 and has been updated to reflect the comments received. A total of 73 responses was received which are analysed in the consultation response report many of which reference the Penrhos development which was under consideration at the time. A user-friendly version of the Plan will be produced once the consultation period is completed and changes made, as will an Action Plan which will be monitored to ensure that the vision for the AONB is implemented and that communities and stakeholders are engaged in that process.

In the ensuing discussion on the Strategy and the public response to it, a number of matters were considered including the reasons for preparing an AONB Management Plan and its links to the Council Plan, the robustness of the public consultation process given that there were only 73 responses and the ways in which that process influenced the final document, the relationship between the AONB Management Plan and the planning development process, the need for a communication plan, the relationship with services internally within the Council especially with  education and the youth service, and improving engagement and collaboration with landowners and farmers. Specific issues around the situation in Llanddwyn and Newborough were also raised in connection with protection and conservation.

The Portfolio Member and Officers present provided further information as follows –

·                That local authorities which administer AONBs are required by law to prepare and publish management plans for their area and to review these plans every five years. Although the Management Plan review is 3 years behind schedule because of the Covid pandemic, the additional time as well as the experiences gained in responding to the pandemic has allowed the Service to ensure that the contents and priorities of the Plan are appropriate and robust and capable of meeting the challenges which the Island faces. The AONB is a living, working landscape and as such the needs of communities and people’s ability to earn a livelihood from the areas in which they live are important. While the AONB designation relates to landscape, ensuring community and economic benefits is important and is acknowledged as is nature and addressing climate change. The Welsh Language is recognised as a special characteristic within the designation. In capturing all these themes the Plan aligns closely with the priorities and strategic objectives of the Council Plan.

·                That an online methodology was adopted for the public consultation as best practice and affording greater accessibility to the public. While the questions set as part of the consultation were focused on key areas of the Plan, they were framed in such a way as to provide an insight into people’s priorities in moving forward thereby informing future work. The 73 responses most of which were observations were assessed and were considered informative and constructive in terms of providing an insight into people’s thoughts about the AONB as well as areas in which improvements could be made. The most pertinent comments have been incorporated within the consultation report. In terms of the volume of responses, the response is considered reasonable and has given the Service a good perspective on what people think and it compares favourably with many previous consultations. Open days have in the past been arranged with previous versions of the Plan but with mixed results. The thinking this time was that continued messaging via the website and/or social media throughout the six-week consultation period would elicit a good response. While there is always room for improving aspects and this will be looked at over the next five-year period, the Service is confident that the consultation process was comprehensive.

·                That the AONB Management Plan is a material consideration within the planning development process and as such AONB Officers are consultees in relation to planning applications. As a living working landscape, development does take place within the AONB as communities need to remain viable within the designation. The AONB will be afforded specific attention in the work of formulating a new Local Development Plan in the coming months.

·                That the consultation process has highlighted the need to improve and expand the opportunities for communication regarding the significance of the AONB and the importance of nature in people’s lives as well as the work of the Council in managing the AONB. Comments showed that people feel strongly about protecting nature for the future but that its role in the health of people and that of the community is not so well understood. The AONB Unit works with other services within the Council with recent discussions having taken place with the Learning Service about how the work of the unit can tie in with the curriculum and how the unit can collaborate more closely with schools.

·                That discussions are afoot with Natural Resources Wales as the responsible agency with regard to resolving issues in Llanddwyn and Newbrough with the Council being part of a group established to consider the future. Working in partnership with NRW, communities, farming and others is considered the way forward in trying to address complex issues such as the crisis in nature and climate change. The Council has sought to bring influence to bear on NRW for a number of years in relation to Llanddwyn which has been challenging. The Council considers that a plan is essential both for managing the reserve as one of the most environmentally important sites in Wales, and for managing the impacts on the people and local community more widely. Further discussions with the Chief Executive of NRW are planned this coming August.

·                That partnership is also recognised as important in the relationship with landowners and farmers and that improved communication of the work of the AONB also entails highlighting opportunities to work collaboratively with stakeholders. The AONB Joint Advisory Committee is a forum which brings those partners and stakeholders together to discuss the management of the AONB. Additionally, the Action Plan that will follow on from the Management Plan will identify opportunities for engagement and collaboration in preserving and managing the landscape of the AONB whilst being mindful of the interests of businesses, communities, farmers and landowners, and local people.

The Portfolio Member for Leisure Tourism and Maritime made closing remarks on the consultation saying that although the number of responses at 73 may appear low, it is a good outcome when compared with many consultations and did include key partnerships. He referred to the Management Plan’s reach extending well beyond nature and landscape alone and its close link to the Destination Management Plan. He noted the points raised during the discussion and the complex nature of some of those issues and agreed with the need to improve communication about the AONB in terms of its significance and what it means in practice.

Having reviewed the scope and content of the draft Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan, it was resolved to recommend the Plan to the Executive for approval and adoption.