Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1) Summary of Decision Area

1.1. To adopt the 2009-2014 management plans for two of Hampshire's Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB); Chichester Harbour and Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs. The decision will be made jointly by the Executive Members for Environment and Recreation, Heritage and Communities as the plans cover countryside and rights of way issues as well as wider environmental issues.

2) Issues Covered in Report

2.1 Existing management plans require to be updated.

2.2 Key issues.

2.3 The County Council's involvement in the management plans.

2.4 Financial contributions to the partnerships.

3) Recommendation

It is recommended that:

3.1 The attached 2009-2014 management plans for two of Hampshire's Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Chichester Harbour and Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs, be adopted.

MAIN REPORT

1) Contextual Information

1.1. Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) are designated by Government, under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, for the primary purpose of conserving and enhancing the natural beauty of the landscape. The Government provides up to 75% funding for AONB partnerships, with local authority partners sharing responsibility for the remaining 25%. Natural England has recently announced that AONB funding for the next three years at least has been secured.

1.2. Part IV of the CRoW Act places a statutory duty on constituent local authorities of AONBs to publish management plans and to review them at five yearly intervals. Management plans were originally prepared in 2004 for a five year period 2004-2009. These plans have undergone a `light touch' review to update them for 2009-2014.

1.3. Both AONBs are required to submit the plans to the Secretary of State by 1 April 2009.

1.4. With regard to Hampshire's other AONBs, the North Wessex Downs AONB will submit its revised plan before September 2009; East Hampshire AONB is part of the proposed South Downs National Park and working on a different timetable.

1.5. Since the adoption of the Management Plans in March 2004, the AONB teams and wider partnerships have been undertaking activities to deliver actions set out in the plans. Delivery against the plans is reviewed and evaluated by the wider partnership annually though Management Plan Reviews and has been more than satisfactory for both AONBs.

2) Key Issues

2.1. There is a statutory duty on the AONB partnerships to review the plans, although the advice from Natural England is to undertake a `light touch' review only, so as not to divert too many resources away from delivery.

2.2. Initial reviews of both management plans by the partnerships reflected the national advice that substantial re-drafting is not required. The overall visions for the AONBs, and objectives and policies remain pertinent, but the plans needed an update to take account of changing local, regional and national policy, new legislation, and to ensure that the actions for the next five years are fit for purpose.

3) Hampshire County Council involvement in the management plans

3.1. Cranborne Chase AONB: the County Council has been involved via:

(i) Member and officer steering of the AONB via the Partnership Panel;

(ii) officer guidance and advice into the management plan review process via the Technical Advice Group;

(iii) steering of AONB priorities and work streams at annual conferences;

(iv) officer consultation on the first draft of the revised 2009-2014 management plan; and

(v) formal adoption (this part of the process).

3.2. Chichester Harbour AONB: Hampshire County Council has been involved via:

(i) Member input to Chichester Harbour Conservancy Board;

(ii) officer input into the management plan review process via a steering group;

(iii) input into workshops which influence the AONB priorities and work streams at annual conferences;

(iv) officer consultation on the first draft of the revised 2009-2014 management plan;

(v) formal adoption.

4) Financial contributions to the partnerships

4.1. Cranborne Chase: Hampshire County Council contributes 3.42% of eligible funding to the partnership, some £2,665 in 2009/10. This figure may vary slightly year on year depending on the amount of Natural England's funding contribution. This arrangement is set out in a Memorandum of Agreement between the partners and Natural England which will also need to be renewed in due course.

4.2. Chichester Harbour: the management plan includes a five year business plan. The activities of the AONB are paid for by the Chichester Harbour precept, which Hampshire County Council has a legal obligation to pay under the Chichester Harbour Conservancy Act 1971. The precept was re-negotiated in June 2008 to an annual increase of + RPI (previously RPI+1%). The estimated cost to the County Council for 2009/10 is £155,900, rising to around £170,800 in 2013/14 (based on an average RPI of 2.3%).

5) Outline of Options

Other options considered and rejected:

5.1. Option 1: do not adopt the management plans. Rejected as this would leave the County Council in breach of the CRoW Act legislation, and with a high risk of damaging its reputation and leadership in this field.

5.2. Option 2: substantial amendment of the plans. Rejected as substantial amendments are not required by Natural England and are unnecessary for the plans be fit for purpose.

6) Conclusions

6.1. After considering the options, adoption of both management plans is proposed because Hampshire County Council officers have been actively involved in reviewing the plans, and the plans are a legislative requirement and also meet the County Council's own aims.

7) Recommendation

Please see Executive Summary for recommendation.

1903Rpt/592/DC

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION:

COMPREHENSIVE RISK & IMPACT ASSESSMENT:

1) Equalities Impact Assessment:

a) An Equalities Assessment has been considered in this response but no adverse impact identified.

2) Impact on Crime and Disorder

a) The provisions of the Act have no impact on this proposal.

3) Climate Change:

a) How does what is being proposed impact on the County Council's carbon footprint/energy consumption?

Both management plans contain actions that will help to reduce the County Council's carbon footprint.

b) How does what is being proposed consider the need to adapt to climate change, and be resilient to its longer term impacts?

Both management plans have taken climate change into account throughout the documents.

Chichester Harbour AONB

The Chichester Harbour plan is structured under 15 themes. Each of the themed sections contains broad policies which address issues. The revised plan identifies how climate change may be an issue under each of the relevant themes and has introduced new policies accordingly, particularly under land/seascape, nature conservancy, farming and the farm landscape, coastal defence and sea level rise. The high level policies feed into specific actions that inform the work of the AONB team and its partners.

Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs AONB

Climate change has been identified as one of the key forces for change that will affect the AONB in the future. The potential impacts of climate change are further set out under each of the key themes, eg locally distinctive landscapes, vibrant local communities and towards a sustainable economy, and are addressed in the high level objectives and policies. The specific impacts of climate change have also been identified for each individual landscape type. These fit into the work of the AONB team and its partners. The AONB will prepare and publish a climate change mitigation and adaptation action plan by April 2010.