Contact: Merrick Denton-Thompson, ext 6826

email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The following decisions are sought:

(i) To delegate to the South Downs Joint Committee the County Council's function of preparing, publishing and reviewing a Management Plan for the East Hampshire Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, further to Section 89 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, together with the budget for annual expenditure allocated to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty by the County Council.

(ii) That, to enable the co-opted Members of the Joint Committee nominated by the Countryside Agency to have full voting rights, support be given to seeking the making of a Statutory Instrument by the Secretary of State further to Section 13(4)(g) of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

2. Reason

2.1 These decisions support Aim 2 (Stewardship of the environment) and Aim 4 (Building strong and safe communities) of the Corporate Strategy by putting in place a mechanism for managing the environment and enabling local people to have a voice in decision making.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 Developing the Management Plan internally within the Environment Department, which would require additional resources.

3.2 Restricting the decision making to elected Members on the Committee. The preparation and review of an effective Management Plan involves consideration of matters over which local government does not have sole control. Collaboration with the private and voluntary sectors is required to effect change.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or Other Executive Member Consulted - None.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: ..................................... Date: 21 September, 2005

Councillor T K Thornber