STATUTORY MEMBERS GROUP
Note of Meeting
22nd June 2015
Present
David Wright, Chairman
Adam Wallace
Mike Goodman
Rob Fairbanks
Denise Furlonger (secretary)
1) Introductions
David thanked the Members for attending.
2) Apologies
Mike Band and David Mir.
3) Note of the last Members Advisory Group Meeting & Matters Arising
The Members agreed theminutes of the meeting held on 16th March 2015.
3.11 – Denise updated on the broadband costs that she had been quoted by BT. It was agreed to recommend to the Board to proceed with the installation.
3.5 – The De-clutter Working Group. It was agreed that Mike Goodman would raise the issue of monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of rural traffic schemes at Surrey County Council.Mike will provide an update by July 7th for reporting at the Board meeting.
5 - It was agreed that the SMG will review the Risk Register at the next meeting before it is presented to the AGM in October.
4) Minutes of the 21st January Board meeting
7.2 – It was agreedthat Rob should follow up with Jason Gaskill, chair of the SCREF Rural Strategy Group, to confirm his membership.
5) Parish Council Survey
The Members reviewed the summary of the survey responses. Rob reported that we had received 56 responses from 35 different parishes. It was disappointing that only half of the respondents were interested in attending a forum. It was agreed that we should continue to remind and encourage them to attend the Partnership Forums.The survey did highlight the growing awareness of the AONB. The e-bulletin was understood to be a useful means to keep parish councils and community groups updated.
It was agreed to:
- Ensure parish councillors were on the e-bulletin database, not just to rely on clerks to forward it
- Review database to include community groups and resident associations
- Ensure that AONB borough and district Members are included on the database
6) Planning Adviser’s Annual Report
Members reviewed the report and questioned whether the Planning Adviser’s advice had much impact.Rob stated that it is difficult to monitor how the advice influences local authority planning decisions; we could only advise the local authorities as the AONB Board is not a statutory consultee. Members discussed whether our influence would it be greater if we were to become a Conservation Board. Adam commented that one major distinction between a joint committee and a Conservation Board was that it is a statutory consultee.
Adam pointed out that under point 2.2 of the report that the Landscape Character Assessment was not commissioned by Natural England and suggested that the wording should be changed to “commissioned by Surrey County Council with financial support from Natural England”. It was agreed that to make this amendment.
The Members enquired if there was any update on the boundary review. Adam responded that there was still no decision on the Dales and Lakes Review which was being held up by the Secretary for State, but that work is starting on the Suffolk Coast and Heaths review. It was agreed that Rob should draft a letter to Natural England asking for an official update.
7) Conservation Board
The Members discussed Rob’s report and discussed the table which described the advantages and disadvantages of becoming a Conservation Board. They mentioned the importance of maintaining the balance of power in a Conservation Boardwhich could be 6 local authorities to 5 Secretary of State Appointees, and suggested that local authority substitutes might need to be appointed.
It was agreed that Rob should canvas the opinions of other AONBs at the imminent National Association for AONBs conference and discuss the issues with Defra. He was asked to report further to the next Statutory Members Group before a report goes to the Board.
8) AONB Budget Review
Denise presented a budget report. She explained that it was too soon in the Financial Year to be able to draw any conclusions about the final outturn. The aim is to balance the accounts and there are currently no concerns.
The Members noted the report.
9) Agenda for AONB Board meeting on 15th July
It was agreed that Rob should approach the Forestry Commission or the Woodland Trust to request a Partner presentation at the next Board meeting.
The Members also requested a report on the Partnership Tour that will be held in June.
10) Any Other Business
There was none.
11) SMG Dates for 2015 meetings
Next meeting:
Monday 14th September at 14:30