Agenda item

Martin Gilchrist, Natural England, advised Forum Members of changes in the organisation in April 2011 in relation to budget, structure and staffing. Regions no longer existed, there were new national teams with access and engagement functions. Martin worked in a new team called ‘People and Partnerships’ which worked on issues in relation to access such as volunteering, diversity, and health.

Martin covered the areas of Berkshire, Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight, and was the first point of contact for LAFs in these areas. There were nine LAF groups, and soon to be ten. Martin could offer support, for example, in relation to LAF guidance. The South East Regional Co-ordinator undertook some work in this area but this role may not continue beyond April 2012.

Martin was in the process of introducing himself to LAFs but emphasised that LAFs could continue using existing contacts in Natural England (NE). Regional LAF meetings used to be held before the restructure of NE but LAFs would now be encouraged to use a new online forum which would provide some functions of NE’s role and would be a place where Fora could communicate with each other. This would be rolled out over the next few months with the aim for one member from each LAF to have access.

In late January or early February the Southern Conference was due to take place as an information gathering exercise.

Forum Members discussed equestrian access and vulnerabilities when horse riding. Horses were not allowed on certain types of rights of way (i.e. footpaths). However opportunities to open up the PRoW network for horse riders to give them access to certain paths, for example, on vulnerable corners needed to be explored. It was recognised in the ROWIP that more needed to be done in this area. This would be fed into the mid term review of the ROWIP and future actions.

Hugh Fitzwilliams and his team were complimented for keeping the vegetation cut back. It was an aim to open up sites and put in bridleways in Bracknell Forest. The total length of the Crouch Lane bridleway in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead had been re-surfaced with treated shredded wood and this had made an improvement to the route.

Martin Gilchrist attended neighbouring LAF meetings and offered to provide summaries of the meetings for the Bracknell Forest LCAF. Forum Members were reminded that the next Mid and West Berkshire LAF meetings were due to be held on 18 January 2012 and 17 May 2012.

The Natural Environment White Paper had identified setting up new partnerships to support biodiversity improvements. Defra and Natural England had identified that LAFs could have a role in Local Nature Partnerships. The Berkshire Nature Conservation Forum had applied for funding from Defra to develop their existing partnership into one of a Local Nature Partnership. There was no formal approach yet from BNCF to LAFs in Berkshire to be consulted. However, there were strong existing links, for example, via Bracknell Biodiversity Forum. Bracknell Forest LAF would find the best way to strengthen existing mechanisms such as site visits, joint working, and having a monitoring role on some work.