Agenda item

To consider a report by the AONB Officer (copy enclosed) for the Committee to provide observations regarding the proposed governance arrangements for the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB.

                                                                                                          10.35 a.m.   

A copy of a report by the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Officer had been circulated with the papers for the meeting.

Councillor H.Ll. Jones introduced the report and explained that the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB Designation Order provided new national recognition and landscape protection to a substantial part of Counties of Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham.  Geographical details of the AONB were included in Appendix 1.

The Principal Countryside Officer: Warden Services (PCOWS) informed the Committee that in recognition of the expanded area the existing AONB Committee and the Joint Advisory Committee (JAC) had reviewed its membership and agreed a balanced membership for LAs with each being invited to send 3 Members to future meetings of the JAC Committee.  The JAC had recommended a stronger LA relationship and agreed that the Joint Committee (JC) Model would be the best mechanism to achieve this aim.  The Chair of the JAC and AONB Officer had met with the Leaders, Chief Executives and Lead Officers who were supportive.  The Committee had provided observations on governance, particularly scrutinising the arrangements for the new JC within Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham Councils.  The Legal Agreement, Appendix 2, defined the JC’s membership, delegated powers and roles.

The PCOWS confirmed that the JC’s main role would be to ‘discharge the delegated functions of AONB management, with the key role being ‘the conservation and enhancement of the area’s natural beauty.’ 

The Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB incorporated a significant central geographical land mass with popular attractions, and the AONB provided a significant health and wellbeing opportunity to the conurbations in Deeside, Wrexham, Cheshire and Merseyside.  Reference was made to the change in the economic function of the respective LA’s with an increasing reliance on rural tourism.  A summary of the following key benefits of the JC had been included in the report:-

·                 Greater Visibility of the AONB.

·                 Improved clarity.

·                 Improved co-ordination of AONB Actions.

·                 Improved efficiency and effectiveness.

·                 Explicit strategy.

·                 Focused Leadership.

·                 Responsible stewardship .

·                 Icons.

The JC was perceived as ‘good practice’ for the governance of the AONB and the AONB Officers would develop many of the aspects of the existing Interim JAC.  The JC would establish the AONB Partnership at its first meeting, and membership details had been provided.  To indicate a comprehensive approach to consultation the AONB would hold an Annual AONB Forum, each having a topical theme.  LA Members and Community Councils who had all or part of their Ward within the AONB would be invited, together with other interested bodies and individuals.

During the consideration of the report Members were advised of the rationale behind having an equitable number of Cabinet Members from each of the three Local Authorities on the Joint Committee and Partnership Group, despite the fact that the majority of the AONB was geographically within Denbighshire's county borders.

It was explained that Denbighshire would be the Lead Authority. Its and the other Councils' contribution towards the administration of the AONB would be paid into and accounted for on a separate budget line for audit and transparency purposes.  The Committee was advised that once all the LA’s had approved the proposal to establish a Joint Committee for the purpose of discharging the delegated functions of AONB Management, a Joint Partnership Group made up of a wider group of stakeholders would be established to develop a management plan for the AONB area. 

Assurances were given that if additional financial resources would be required at any point AONB officers would have to approach all constituent Councils with a bid for the additional finances.  Members stressed the importance of permitting 'affordable' housing developments in rural communities with a view to sustaining the local economy and making community amenities viable. 

Members requested sight of the legislation for Joint Committees (JCs) which stipulates that the membership of JCs was restricted to Executive/Cabinet Members.  In endorsing the proposals Members also asked that a visit be arranged for Committee Members, during the summer of 2014, to AONB and Countryside Services sites throughout the County so that they could fully understand the value of these establishments to residents and to the local economy. 

Following further discussion, it was:-

RESOLVED – that the Committee:-

(a) subject to the above observations, support the proposed governance arrangements for the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB.

(b) that a progress report on the Joint Committee's achievements in delivering its objectives be presented to the Committee in 12 months’ time.

(c) be provided with details of the legislation which stipulated the membership of Joint Committees, and

(d) requests that a visit be arranged to view areas of the AONB.