Agenda item

• Report from the LAF National Conference
• Regional LAF Conference
• Rights of Way Condition Survey Results 2011 – 12
• LCAF and a Local Nature Partnership
• Communication from Richard Benyon MP
• Paths for Communities Fund
• Huddle
• Attendance at neighbouring LAF meetings

Natural England were co-ordinating a new grant scheme which would encourage and enable local communities to work with land owners to develop and enhance local public paths in ways that would deliver wider benefit. £1 million per annum would be divided between schemes nationally this and next financial year. There was an emphasis on funding for rural schemes, active promotion of rights of way and adding value to the local economy. Evidence of this was needed for grant claims and Local Access Forums and Highway Authorities should be involved where appropriate.

In most cases there would be a 75% grant and the remaining 25% could be funded by other groups, although 100% grants were possible. Some of the quality improvements proposed to the Borough’s Rights of Way network in the Rights of Way Improvement Plan may qualify for funding. There was an online form and guidance document in relation to the grant funding. Ineligible schemes should ‘self-select out’. There was possible landowner compensation and national trails would likely be popular ideas for schemes.

The Grants Panel would meet monthly and funding would be given as part of an ongoing process over two years. The scheme was open for applications on Monday 23 April 2012.

Comments or feedback on possible schemes to put forward for the grant funding should be forwarded to Graham Pockett graham.pockett@bracknell-forest.gov.uk or Rose Wicks rose.wicks@bracknell-forest.gov.uk .

(Action: All)

It was queried when West End Lane would be developed and if this could tie in with an application for grant funding. Uncertainty on timescales to deliver this project may be an issue as much depended on the land owner and implementation of the planning condition. Further suggestions included the loop at Peacock Farm; Temple Park as a cycle route could meet up the other side with the Stag and Hounds pub; improving the path from Ambarrow to Horseshoe Lake, and Winkfield Path. The ROWIP would also be considered for likely schemes.

Huddle

Forum members had been contacted in December 2011 regarding joining Huddle, the online Forum for LAFs. Huddle arose out of a need to link up LAFs nationally after a withdrawal of funding for the England Access Forum. This had been in operation for a few months and there was evidence that it was being used by some forums. There was an aim for a minimum of one member and up to three members per LAF to be members of Huddle. Forum members would join Huddle as individuals but it was suggested that members could say that they were representing the views of their local LAF regarding a subject raised at a LAF meeting if it was in the minutes of the meeting.

Volunteers to become involved in Huddle should inform Rose Wicks or Graham Pockett.

(Action: All)

LAF National Conference

The National LAF Conference took place on Tuesday 6 March. Rose Wicks of the Parks and Countryside Service attended the conference on behalf of the LCAF in Bracknell Forest. The Conference was held in Bristol and 46 LAFs attended from all over the UK with different representatives including LAF Chairmen and Local Authority representatives.

Richard Benyon, MP, gave an address via a video link. Pippa Langford, Natural England Chairman then introduced the event, and Andy McIntosh, Natural England went on to give an overview of Natural England’s role working with LAFs. Andy would be the new contact for the People and Partnerships Team at Natural England.

There would be funding for LAF Regional Co-ordinators for next year. LAF work on a regional level was of more importance now. Martin Gilchrist, People and Partnership’s Team South and Jonathan Clark, South East Regional LAF Representative attended the event. There was a chance for LAFs to be involved with the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy after 2013.

Hugh Craddock, Head of the Commons and Access Implementation Team at Defra, gave an overview of Defra’s involvement with LAFs and how they were said to be more distant from LAFs. Paul Johnson, Principle Access Specialist at Natural England, attended as a principal specialist on the Paths for Communities Fund. Bids in relation to local riding networks were felt to be favourable and existing links were being updated. Work would be undertaken with existing local programmes.

Rob Leek, of the People and Partnerships Team at Natural England, gave an overview of Huddle. Concern was expressed with regard to the restrictions to the number of memberships per LAF. The cost implications would be investigated further and Huddle was a work in progress.

The LAF handbook was due to be updated. It was suggested that Huddle be used for feedback.

Various workshops took place exploring a range of issues including; shared use paths/multi-user rights, delivering with less, ROWIPs and LTPs and Green Infrastructure.

LAF members expressed that there was confusion regarding changes to rights of way networks, for example with multi-user rights and urban or semi-urban footpaths becoming cycle paths. The importance of good signage was highlighted as evident in Surrey. Cycle tracks that excluded horses was identified as a concern. Public rights of way were different to cycle tracks and there was an argument for multi-user paths.

Public services such as maintaining rights of way were being cut due to financial implications. There was still money to maintain LAFs via Local Authorities but this was not always ringfenced and with Local Authorities being increasingly squeezed, less money was sometimes being given to LAFs. Commercial sponsorship was sometimes used such as contracted secretariat duties being undertaken by a consultant.

Unitary Authorities were well keyed into integrating ROWIP and LTP issues. There was a need for LAF functions to be taken more seriously as they were statutory advisers on LTPs and ROWIPs. Having better linkage with Highways should help, as would increasing the diversity of membership so that they could communicate to a larger audience and having Councillor support. If LAFs could not encourage key people to agree to attend meetings, then LAF members could potentially sit as representatives on other panels.

LAF Regional Conference

The next LAF Regional Conference would be held at 10.30am to 4pm on 22 May 2012 at the Bloomsbury Suite in London, the same venue as last year. If Forum members wished to attend this event, they should contact Graham Pockett by the morning of the 20 April 2012, as replies to Jonathan Clark were due on this date.

(Action: All)

Bracknell Forest Council could cover travel expenses for Forum members attending this event and there was no cost in relation to the event itself. Lunch would be provided free and officers could attend with up to four Forum members.

Rights of Way Survey

It was reported that paths were checked which were not previously randomly selected after five years. Approximately 43.8% of paths were surveyed and the results scored highly on Best Value Performance Indicator.  It was noted that the Rights of Way network in Bracknell Forest was relatively small, and this should be considered when comparing results with those of large county councils in the south east.

Local Nature Partnership

There were plans to set up a Local Nature Partnership for Berkshire. There were workshops in January regarding how people could get involved with health and nature, for example, or communities and nature. There were speakers from the NHS, Thrive, and Kelly Thomas the Local Nature Partnership co-ordinator. Suggestions of the benefits from joined up working between LCAF and the LNP included joint funding bids, a strengthened voice, a central website, and integrated advice to both LCAF and the LNP. Best practice could be learned from other organisations. A Farm Sunday was held last year and approximately 800 people attended. Funding for Local Nature Partnerships was approximately £2 million nationally. Finchampstead Ridges was possibly the closest National Trust land to Bracknell Forest but there were experts at the Crown Estate.

Letter from Richard Benyon MP

Forum members noted that there were four proposals last year in relation to improving the flow of information between Forums, Natural England and Defra and positive feedback had been received on the consultation process. The suggestion of an annual training event had been a popular idea. The proposal for a memorandum of understanding between Defra or Natural England and LAFs had met with a more mixed response. The role of LAFs was set out in statute, but a memorandum would help to define the support available to LAFs from Defra and Natural England. There was some doubt about having a single LAF member on the Rights of Way Review Committee representing everyone’s views at a national level.

Attendance

The Parks and Countryside Service would continue to inform Forum members of LAF meetings in neighbouring authorities if they would like to attend.