WP: CBF/F1/RW/LAH

7^th April, 2000 — At a meeting of the Board held at Pelham House, Lewes.

Present Lord Renton of Mount Harry (Chairman)

Mr. Betteridge Mr. Elliott Mr. Rowe

Mr. Brown Mr. Fitch Mr. Skilton

Mr. Bryant Mr. Hall Mr. Small

Mr. Buck Mr. Livings Mrs. Sutton

Mr. Burden Mr. Millmore Mr. Taylor

Mrs. Burns Mrs. Morrish Mrs. Tidy

Mr. Clark Mr. Neighbour Mr. Wallis

Mr. Dingemans Mr. Paterson Mr. White

Mr. Duncton Mr. Reed Miss Woodall

Mr. Dyason

112. Apologies were received from Mr. Dunn, Ms. Bloom, Mr. Leonard, Ms. James, Mr. Rose and Mr. Streeter.

MINUTES

113. Resolved — That the minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 17^th January 2000 be approved as a correct record and that they be signed by the Chairman.

MEMBERSHIP OF THE BOARD

114. The Board was informed that following the resignation of Mr. Trevor Webb, East Sussex County Council had appointed Mr. John Livings as a member of the Board. The Chairman welcomed Mr. Livings and Mrs. Tidy, from Wealden District Council, who were attending their first meetings.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

115. The Board received the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on 7^th March 2000 (copy attached to the signed minutes).
     
116. Mr. Elliott suggested that the words "review the overall objectives of the Joint Working Party" in minute 96 was going further than the Executive Committee had intended, and that the Committee had envisaged that the role of the Working Party be reviewed in the light of the Secretary of State’s announcement regarding national park status. The Board agreed that minute 96 be amended accordingly.

 

FUTURE OF THE SOUTH DOWNS

117. Miss Leeson reported that the Countyside Agency Board at its meeting in February had agreed a revised interpretation of the criteria for the designation of National Parks and at its meeting on 13^th April 2000, would apply that interpretation to the Downs in order to make a recommendation to Ministers on whether the Downs was suitable for designation as a National Park. That meeting would be held at Winchester and members of the Countryside Agency Board would tour the South Downs the day before. The papers for the Board meeting would be available on the Countryside Agency website. The Chairman asked the Clerk to arrange for the papers and the minutes of the Board meeting to be circulated to all Board members as soon as possible.

MANAGEMENT OF THE DOWNS AFTER APRIL 2001

118. The Clerk reported that the local authorities had been asked to consider whether they would agree to the extension of the agreement constituting the Conservation Board for a further three year period from 1^st April 2001 and to maintain their funding. Eastbourne, Lewes and Wealden District Councils had confirmed their support and agreement in principle had been notified by Arun and Horsham District Councils. Replies were awaited from the other local authorities and these would be reported to the Executive Committee. The Countryside Agency had agreed in principle but the level of its contribution would depend upon the Board’s three year work programme.

119. Mr. Bryant and Mr. Millmore expressed concern that the Countryside Agency funding was based on the detail of projects and not a flat contribution as provided by the local authorities. The Chairman agreed but reminded the Board that approximately £200,000 of additional income from the Agency had been generated in the last year due to projects and match funding.

120. Mr. Skilton advised that East Sussex County Council had agreed in principle to maintain its support for the Board. Mr. Fitch advised that Brighton and Hove Council might find it difficult to make a formal commitment for three years at this stage, but expected that the Council would be able to maintain its support for the Board.

121. The Sussex Downs Officer reported the present position on the development of the Business Plan and was working closely with colleagues from the East Hampshire local authorities to complete the Plan by July. The timescale was extremely tight and the Sussex Downs Officer hoped to bring a draft of the plan to the Executive Committee but it was unlikely that it could be brought to the full Board for consultation.

122. The Board received the notes of the meeting of the South Downs Working Party held on 1^st March 2000 (copy attached to the signed minutes). Mr. Elliott, who had chaired the meeting, gave a full report on the matters considered by the Working Party. The Board was pleased to note that the Working Party was helping to co-ordinate action on the production of the South Downs Business Plan and the Strategic Management Plan.

123. Mr. Reed referred to the South Downs Way Management Plan which had been considered by the Working Party and asked if it was intended to bring this to the Board for consideration. Mrs. Morrish advised that the draft Management Plan appeared to give insufficient credit to the work of the local authorities in managing the South Downs Way over the years before the establishment of the Conservation Board. The Chairman confirmed that the Management Plan would be brought to the Board for comment and approval.

124. Mr. Bryant referred to the reference in note 28 to the Government’s proposals for the restoration of downland and suggested that this needed to be given a higher priority within the Board in order to take advantage of the favourable political climate. The Chairman agreed and reminded the Board of the objective of marketing South Downs lamb and the synergy between this project and the restoration of downland.

125. The Board received a report from the Sussex Downs Officer (copy attached to the signed minutes) giving details of the Virtual Information Centre which had been launched formally at a presentation prior to the meeting of the Board that day. The Board congratulated the Sussex Downs Officer and his staff and in particular, Julian Gray and Jenny Grant for their work in establishing the Virtual Information Centre and for arranging the presentation.

126. The Board received a report by its Personnel Officer (copy attached to the signed minutes) advising on the recent success in gaining Investors in People status and the benefits of being an Investor in People. A formal presentation of the Award had been made by Professor Alasdair Smith the Vice-Chancellor of Sussex University prior to the meeting of the Board.

127. The Board congratulated the Sussex Downs Officer and his staff in obtaining the award, in particular Phil Belden, the Countryside Manager and Michelle Unek, the Administrative Officer, who had been instrumental in achieving this success.

128. The Board received a report from the Clerk and the Sussex Downs Officer (copy attached to the signed minutes) on the Government’s Countryside and Rights of Way Bill which contained measures to establish public access to open countryside (the "right to roam"); to amend the law relating to rights of way and road traffic; and to strengthen the protection of Sites of Special Scientific Interest and wildlife generally. The report commented on the proposals and the implications for the management of the South Downs and the work of the Conservation Board. It identified a number of important issues, including the need for a clear definition of the land to which the right to roam would apply, the need for the resource implications to be properly addressed and a number of detailed points regarding the practicality of making the proposed legislation work. The report also drew attention to expressed concern that the Government had not brought forward clauses to improve the management and protection of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

129. The Chairman advised that the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Bill included two local MPs, Mr. David Lepper and the Hon. Nicholas Soames and suggested that the report should be copied to both MPs and that the Sussex Downs Officer and the Chairman might arrange to meet them to explain the concerns outlined in the report. The Board welcomed the suggestion from the Chairman and agreed that this level of detailed comment was best addressed at committee stage.

130. The Board agreed with the Sussex Downs Officer’s general conclusion that the Board’s role should be to seek to advise the Government of its concerns about the practicality of making legislation work effectively and in the longer term to help all parties achieve an effective working solution through resolving conflict fairly, providing an information role and delivering action.

131. Resolved —

1. That the Minister for the Environment be advised of the concerns expressed in the report about the practicality of making the proposed legislation work in the South Downs.
2. That the Sussex Downs Officer be authorised to discuss with the Countryside Agency and with DETR, the implications of the legislation for the South Downs and the concerns outlined in paragraph 7.1-7.9 of the report.
3. That the cost implications of the proposals be assessed and incorporated into the emerging South Downs Business Plan.
4. That the Sussex Downs Officer and the Chairman make arrangements to brief the two local MPs serving on the committee examining the Bill.

132. The Board received the budget monitoring statement from the Treasurer and the Sussex Downs Officer (copy attached to the signed minutes) covering the period 1^st April 1999 to 29^th February 2000, projected to 31^st March 2000. The Board noted that the probable outurn for the year was approximately £30,000 below the revised estimate for the year. This arose from certain projects which would be carried forward into the following financial year because they had not yet achieved the required matched funding.

133. Mr. Wallis referred to the income from charging for car parking at Seven Sisters Country Park and to the concerns expressed to him from some parish councils at perceived spill over parking problems resulting from the introduction of charges. The Sussex Downs Officer confirmed that he was aware of the views being expressed. Mr. Wallis suggested that consideration might also be given to a concessionary rate for local people.

134. The Board received a report from the Sussex Downs Officer (copy attached to the signed minutes) setting out proposals for additional resources to assist the Board’s Planning Officer in his work in view of the increasing number of planning applications on which the Board was being consulted. The report had been discussed at the Planning Committee on 14^th February and at the Executive Committee on 7^th March 2000, both of which had supported the need for additional resources.

135. Mr. Elliott referred to the monitoring report from the Board’s Planning Officer which had been considered at a recent meeting of the Committee which suggested that 40% of applications objected to by the Board were approved by the local planning authority. This statistic was now being used in certain quarters to discredit the Board’s effectiveness as a planning consultee and as a guardian of the AONB. The Sussex Downs Officer explained that the statistic required interpretation because many applications, after being objected to by the Board, were modified accordingly before being determined by the local planning authority. However, the Board was advised that the Chairman of the Countryside Agency had quoted this statistic when he had met members of the constituent local authorities recently to discuss the future status of the South Downs. The Chairman agreed that this needed to be properly interpreted and the Countryside Agency informed accordingly and that future reports should show where planning applications had been modified following objections from the Conservation Board. The Chairman asked that the statistics for the year 1999/2000 should be reproduced accordingly and cleared with him before circulation.

136. The Board received a report from the Sussex Downs Officer introducing the South Downs planning guidelines (copies of both are attached to the signed minutes) which were recommended for approval by the Board following consultation with the local authorities in the South Downs. The Planning Officer confirmed that the guidelines would be produced in a ring binder version so that they could be updated in future.

137. Resolved — That the planning guidelines be approved.

138. The Board received the minutes of the meetings of the Planning Committee held on 10^th January, 14^th February and 13^th March 2000.

139. The next meeting of the Board will be held at 2.15 p.m. on Friday 7^th July at Adur Civic Centre.

CHAIRMAN