Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Environment

Forward Plan Ref: 2014/023

Contact: Steve Smith, Service Manager, Network & Asset Management Tel: (01865) 810435

Report by Deputy Director for Environment & Economy – Commercial & Delivery (CA10).

It is a statutory duty for the highway authority to prepare, publish & review a Rights of Way Improvement Plan (RoWIP). The RoWIP provides the strategy framework for public rights of way recording, management and development.

Oxfordshire's first RoWIP was adopted on 21 February 2006 and ran until the end of 2011/12. On 22 March 2012 the Cabinet Member for Transport authorised the extension of the current RoWIP validity date to March 2014 and the development of its replacement.

The first consultation on the review of the RoWIP ran from November 2012 to January 2013. This secured broad agreement of the principles outlined for continuation into a new plan.  In light of these consultation responses the draft second Rights of Way Improvement Plan was developed. In recognition of the need to maintain existing rights of way as well as seek improvements to the network as a whole it was decided to amend title of the document to a Rights of Way Management Plan (RoWMP).

On 9 January 2014 the Cabinet Member for Environment authorised the publication of the draft Rights of Way Management Plan for public consultation and to extend the lifespan of the current plan until such time that approval for the finalised Rights of Way Management Plan document has been confirmed.

The second public consultation ran from January to May 2014.  In total 68 representations were made, including the Local Access Forum for Oxfordshire. All representations were considered and analysed. Where appropriate, the final draft version of the Rights of Way Management Plan 2015-2025 takes account of these representations. Overall, the plan's vision and aims are the same as the original Rights of Way Improvement Plan. 

The decision to adopt the Rights of Way Management Plan is required to provide County Council approval of the plan.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)        note the results of the consultation on the draft Rights of Way Management Plan;

(b)       approve the proposed changes to the consultation document;

(c)        adopt the Rights of Way Management Plan for the period January 2015 - December 2025; and

(d)       extend the lifespan of the current Rights of Way Improvement Plan to December 2014.

Recommendations agreed.

It is a statutory duty for the highway authority to prepare, publish & review a Rights of Way Improvement Plan (RoWIP). The RoWIP provides the strategy framework for public rights of way recording, management and development. Oxfordshire's first RoWIP was adopted on 21 February 2006 and ran until the end of 2011/12. On 22 March 2012 the Cabinet Member for Transport authorised the extension of the current RoWIP validity date to March 2014 and the development of its replacement. Following public consultation on the review, Cabinet had before them a report seeking approval to adopt the Rights of Way Management Plan. Cabinet also had before them an addenda containing Annex 3, on proposed changes to the aims and a summary of key changes to the Rights of Way Management Plan document and list of

representations made to the consultation draft.

Councillor Nimmo Smith, Cabinet Member for Environment, in moving the recommendations commented that the plan fitted in to the developing Local Transport Plan 4. For example by replacing stiles with gates.

The Chairman thanked all those involved in the Review of the Plan which had been an enormous piece of work. Cabinet.

RESOLVED:           to:

(a)        note the results of the consultation on the draft Rights of Way Management Plan;

(b)        approve the proposed changes to the consultation document;

(c)        adopt the Rights of Way Management Plan for the period January 2015 - December 2025; and

(d)        extend the lifespan of the current Rights of Way Improvement Plan to December 2014.