Agenda item

To consider a report (copy enclosed) by the Countryside and Heritage Services Manager which outlines the progress made by the Council and its partner agencies/organisations with respect of implementing the Committee’s recommendations following its review of the fire incident and its impact

10.40am – 11.15am

The Head of Planning and Public Protection, Emlyn Jones, Senior Countryside Officer, David Shiel and Natural Resources Wales representatives Nick Thomas and Rhys Ellis were in attendance for the item.

The Head of Planning and Public Protection (HPPP) guided members through the report (previously circulated) providing an update on the progress made against the recommendations made by Communities Scrutiny Committee in relation to the review into the Llantysilio Mountain Fire of Summer 2018.  The report was provided as per the Committee’s request.

The Natural Resources Wales (NRW) representative updated members on the work that had been completed by NRW at the site and the options for further work to be completed. A review of the options to restore the area had been completed.  Meetings had taken place with land owners. A meeting with graziers had been scheduled prior to work commencing in the spring.  Agreement to employ a moorland officer had been reached and funding approved from Denbighshire and NRW. The post holder would monitor work at the site and work with local landowners and graziers.  Members wanted to thank NRW for the funding partnership to recruit a moorland officer for the site. Members expressed disappointment that the Fire and Rescue Authority had not agreed to financially contribute towards the moorland officer post. Officers emphasised the Fire Service had requested to participate in the training and support of the new post holder, but could not financially contribute to the role. Confirmation that no direct approach to other local authorities to aid the funding for the post had been made.  

Members raised concerns of ‘fencing’ areas in the area. It was emphasised that communication with the graziers needed to take place. The relationship with the graziers would be of high importance. The involvement of the graziers with the restoration of the land was seen as vital. It was highlighted the problems faced by the graziers at the time and following the fire had been extremely challenging. 

The decision on fencing areas was a proposal for sections of the land, but no decision had been reached. It was explained the difficulties in fencing on common lands as a Section 194 agreement from Welsh Government would need to be obtained. It was the opinion of NRW to refrain from fencing areas of land, dependant on discussions with the graziers. Concerns on the level of vegetation in areas of the mountain were discussed. It was confirmed that certain areas had been damaged more than others. A number of different techniques and methods to regain and nurture the vegetation were planned and would be trialled. Certain areas would take a long time to repair and develop.

The HPPP explained the importance of the working group to monitor and review work done at the site to restore the land and grazing of the land. It was the opinion of NRW that in time further grazing of the land be observed. The new Moorland Officer post would aid to build good relationships with graziers and facilitate working with Denbighshire and other agencies. The new post would provide the graziers with a key link to Denbighshire and NRW to communicate any concerns or observations.

Following discussion the Committee:

Resolved: 

(i)           subject to the above observations to acknowledge the progress made to date in implementing the Committee’s recommendations following its inquiry into the fire on Llantysilio Mountain and its impact;

(ii)          confirmed that as part of their consideration they had read, understood and taken into account the Well-being Impact Assessment (WIA) on the Moorland Management and Wildfire Prevention Project (Appendix 2 to the report); and

(iii)         that representations should be made to North Wales Fire and Rescue Service), via the Council’s representatives on the Fire and Rescue Authority, seeking it to reconsider its decision not to provide financial support for the Moorland Management Officer post that was to be established in the near future