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ITEM EX17

EXECUTIVE – 16 MARCH 2004

MANAGEMENT PLANS – NORTH WESSEX DOWNS AND COTSWOLDS AREAS OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY

Report by Head of Sustainable Development

Introduction

     

  1. The Countryside and Rights of Way (CROW) Act 2000 placed a new duty on all local authorities with Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) to prepare and publish a management plan for the AONB by 31 March 2004.

    (Annex 1 - Chilterns AONB Management Plan – "A Framework for Action")

  2. AONBs often cross county boundaries and Government guidance urges local authorities to use joint working mechanisms in plan preparation. The North Wessex Downs and Cotswolds AONBs both have Joint Advisory Committees (JACs) and dedicated staff teams ideally suited to coordinate plan preparation. Member authorities therefore requested the respective JACs to prepare a plan for the whole of their AONB in this way.

  3. The North Wessex Downs Council of Partners and Cotswolds AONB Partnership have now completed their work on the Management Plans and have approved their respective documents. Both bodies have now forwarded their Plans to the constituent authorities for formal adoption by 31 March 2004. Copies have been placed in the Members’ Resource Centre. The Plan for the Cotswolds AONB is in a black and white pre design format and will be published with suitable illustrations, maps etc following adoption. The Plan for the North Wessex Downs is in its final form.

  4. The Plan for the third AONB area in the County, the Chilterns, is already in place and was formally adopted by the Executive in September 2002.

    5. The Management Plans

  5. The Management Plans will provide a framework for co-ordinating and directing management activity towards the conservation and enhancement of these nationally important landscapes and the promotion of acceptable social and economic development.

  6. The documents were prepared with extensive input from officers both through membership of various working groups and through comments provided on earlier draft texts. The final Plans contain nothing that goes against the policies or values of the County Council. Indeed many of their policies draw on and develop this authority’s own objectives. Formal adoption of the Plans can therefore be recommended.

  7. In preparing the final Plans the CROW Act 2000 requires formal consultation with the Countryside Agency and English Nature. Both organisations were consulted by the North Wessex Downs Council of Partners and Cotswolds AONB Partnership, on the constituent authorities’ behalf, and both welcomed the documents, making supportive and constructive comments.

    8. Environmental Implications

  8. AONBs are nationally important landscapes of equal status to the National Parks. The development and implementation of appropriate Management Plans, produced in co-operation with the other constituent local authorities, will assist in ensuring a clear framework for action from a wide range of authorities, bodies and organisations.

    9. RECOMMENDATION

  9. The Executive is RECOMMENDED to adopt the North Wessex Downs AONB Management Plan and the Cotswolds AONB Management Plan in pursuance of the duty under section 89(2b) of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000

CHRIS COUSINS
Head of Sustainable Development

Background papers: Nil

Contact Officer: Keith Wheal, Countryside Services Manager Tel: (01865) 810202

March 2004

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