Issue - meetings

National and Regional LCAF Work

Meeting: 01/10/2013 - Local Countryside Access Forum (Item 5)

5 National and Regional LAF Work pdf icon PDF 32 KB

  • Update on LAF meetings / conference
  • Huddle
  • Local Nature Partnership newsletter
  • Richard Benyon letter

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Bracknell LCAF members were not able to attend the national LAF conference but feedback from the conference was on the Natural England website. Issues discussed at the conference included: working with volunteers, urban LAFs, multi-user routes, LAF involvement with Local Nature Partnerships (LNPs), how LAFs could better engage with the health agenda, planning issues, facilitating disabled access, Huddle, Open Access, impacts of cuts on rights of way management, Green Infrastructure, and Paths for Communities.

 

Link to further information regarding the Local Access Forum National Conference 2013: http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/7685821 .

 

Richard Mosses, Cllr Michael Brossard and Peter Radband attended the regional LAF conference in May which was well represented by members from other LAFs.

 

Peter Radband had attended a Mid and West Berkshire neighbouring LAF meeting which had a comprehensive agenda and could last for up to four hours. There was more involvement from members at this LAF, with members required to attend neighbouring LAF meetings and report back. There was a Rights of Way Improvement Group, led by Adrian Lawson, and sub committees to make recommendations if there were issues. A subject for discussion included possible improvements in the area of cyclists on the road.

 

Peter suggested that LCAF members consider having a cycling forum to advise on planning issues. There were no safe cycling routes into Bracknell Forest, for example, from Bagshot. This would be investigated further with Phil Burke, Travel Plan Co-ordinator.

(Action: Graham Pockett/ Rose Wicks)

 

Michael Abbott and Richard Mosses had attended a Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead (RBWM) LAF meeting (report on page 9 of the agenda papers).

 

If LCAF members were interested in attending neighbouring LAF meeting, the details could be found on the websites of the authorities (examples below):

 

Peter Radband, Cllr Michael Brossard, Graham Pockett and Rose Wicks were signed up to Huddle. It would be useful to have a source of help for using Huddle and this would be investigated further.

(Action: Rose Wicks)

 

Annie English was the new contact at the Berkshire Local Nature Partnership.

 

DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) were running a Consultation from 5 September 2013 to 7 November 2013 on Biodiversity Offsetting in England: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/biodiversity/biodiversity_offsetting . Dan Carpenter, Biodiversity Officer was the best contact for more information regarding this.

 

The Forum noted the letter from Richard Benyon MP of 3 September 2013.


 

Contact Information

Democratic services

Email: committee@bracknell-forest.gov.uk