Agenda and minutes

Diana Pidgeon welcomed all members of the Forum to the meeting and also Gill Alker of Thames Valley Energy.  The Forum was advised that Heather White, Planning and Projects Manager, had left Bracknell Forest Borough Council.  The Forum wished to record its thanks to Heather for all of the support provided and good wishes for the future.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 27 September 2005.

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Forum held on 27 September 2005 were approved as a correct record.

·       Welcome to new members

·       Nominations and voting for chair and vice-chair

The Forum welcomed Richard Mosses of the South East Berkshire Ramblers Association as a new member, representing countryside users.

·       Short rotation coppice / energy crops

Gill Alker of Thames Valley Energy attended to discuss short rotation coppicing and energy crops, some of the concerns surrounding these issues and the potential for generating energy crops in the locality.

Of the main widely acknowledged concerns raised around energy crops, the Forum was advised:

• Energy crops are carbon neutral because the burning of these materials releases only the carbon already taken out of the atmosphere when the trees were growing.  The only long term emissions generated would be that used in the processing of the wood, to fuel chipping machines and haulage.  These emissions could be minimised by using bio-ethanol or bio-diesel and using local crops to fuel local boilers.
• In terms of biodiversity, the Game Conservancy Trust was funded to carry out a five year investigation of the effects of energy crops on local flora and fauna.  It found that compared to arable crops, energy crops encouraged greater numbers and varieties of birdlife, with levels of migrant birds similar to those found in hedgerows, apart from the numbers of skylarks and lapwings, which were lower.  Overall, energy crops encouraged higher numbers of insects and invertebrates, small mammals, butterflies and species of plant, than arable land.
• The affect on the landscape had also been an issue and the Forum was advised that any proposed new energy crop planting was assessed by the Forestry Commission for landscape impact and also widely consulted upon.  There were available many guidelines to help make energy crops more sympathetic to the local landscape and even at maximum demand for energy crops, it was estimated that the land area needed would not be excessive, though the increase on existing energy crop provision to meet the targets set, would be substantial.  Current planting of 250 hectares would need increasing to 4,000 hectares within the next 2 – 3 years.

The Forum was advised that there were currently incentives available for farmers to plant energy crops as the use of biomass with coal was being promoted by the government.  From 2009 – 2016 all coal powered power stations would be required to burn a proportion of biomass to obtain their “green certificate”.  Ideally this would be sourced from a 50 mile radius of the power station, as whilst biomass could be imported, this would negate many of the benefits of local provision.  The long term vision was of decentralised power production which used locally produced crops.

The Forum was shown examples of current best practice in the region, which included:

• Buckinghamshire County Council had an 80 kilowatt boiler which used 50-60 tonnes of woodchip per annum to provide energy for a residential education centre
• A primary school in Buckinghamshire in the Diocese of Oxford used a 60kw boiler burning 30 tonnes of woodchip per annum to heat the school
• A horticultural nursery in Wexham had a 600kw boiler, burning 300 tonnes of woodchip per annum
• A farmer in Yorkshire used a 100kw boiler using 60 tonnes of woodchip per annum to provide heat for offices and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 75.

·       Update on Bracknell Forest ROWIP

·       Other authorities (Countryside Agency questionnaire) & the future

The Forum was advised that the ROWIP was now completed and copies were distributed to those at the meeting.  Bracknell Forest, having published its ROWIP, was well ahead of many authorities and the recently published Local Transport Plan now also included information about the ROWIP.  The Forum was advised that it now needed to consider the proposed actions listed in the “Action Plan” in Section 9 of the ROWIP and decide which to undertake once the current projects were completed.  Suggestions made included:

• Raising the profile of “The Cut” and making efforts to improve it further.  It was put forward that the Windsor and Maidenhead Quiet Lanes Project could link to this with minimal cost and disruption.  It was agreed that James and David Bertie would visit the area in question to see how this could be progressed.

 (Action: James Dymond/David Bertie)

• James also agreed to provide a more detailed area map and to see whether the Quiet Lanes Project was included in the Windsor and Maidenhead ROWIP.

  (Action: James Dymond)

The Forum noted this report.

·       Notes from the Countryside Agency/DEFRA workshop on 8 February 2006.

The Forum noted the notes form the Workshop and await the information pack for LCAFs to be published by the Countryside Agency.

·       Minutes from 21st meeting on 14 November 2005

The Forum was advised that in terms of the national access picture, basic access provisions had now generally been identified and implemented.  Now, access to coastal areas and inland waterways was being considered, as well as whether large public landowners, such as the National Trust and Crown Estate and even local authorities would volunteer dedicated access to their land.  Additionally, Ordinance Survey maps were being updated as they were reissued to show all access land and access points, so overall it was a positive and improving picture.

·       ‘Syngenta bridleway’

·       Devil’s Highway underpass

·       Watersplash Lane

• Syngenta Bridleway – the Forum was advised that the new bridleway was now officially in place.  The Forum queried whether Syngenta planned to plant trees along the new fencing and it was agreed that James would investigate this.                                                                         (Action: James Dymond)

It agreed that it was also necessary to arrange a visit to the new bridleway one evening (6.30 pm start) before the end of May.

(Action: James Dymond/Mark Osman)

• Devils Highway underpass – the Forum was advised that this had been cleared in February 2006 because it had been flooding every winter and there had originally been a drain situated there.  One to two feet of sand had been cleared and there was now no mud or flooding.  This would need future monitoring and cleaning as necessary.

• Watersplash Lane – the Forum was advised that a method statement had been sent in to the Environment Agency who have given consent for the work.  Notice has been issued and work would start in May for approximately one month.

The Forum was advised that the Crown Estate was proposing to put in fencing and charge of entrance to approximately 220 acres of Windsor GreatPark known as the ValleyGardens.  The proposals included more visitor centres, elevated walkways, children’s playgrounds and a land train.  Also involved, however, was the removal of a central car park, which was felt to raise substantial access issues.  Local communities were unhappy with the proposals and had raised a petition and website opposing the changes.  The Forum was minded not to become involved with this issue as the land in question was not in Bracknell Forest and it was also not open access land, but permitted access.

• The Forum was advised that the list of members had been updated.
• There was discussion of the effects of Special Protection Areas locally.
• The creation of a new bridleway form Winkfield Way to the boundary with the Royal Berkshire Polo Club was suggested as a possible future project for the Forum.  It was agreed that this be put on the Action Plan and investigated further.                                                  (Action James Dymond)
• Date of next meeting – early October 2006.