Venue: Multi-Location Meeting - Gloucester Room, Guildhall / MS Teams. View directions
Contact: Democratic Services: - 636923
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Election of Vice-Chair for the 2023-2024 Municipal year. Decision: Resolved that Barbara Parry be elected Vice-Chair of the Advisory Group for the 2023-2024 Municipal year. Minutes: Resolved that Barbara Parry be elected Vice-Chair of the Advisory Group for the 2023-2024 Municipal year. |
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Declarations of Interest. Decision: None. Minutes: In accordance with the Code
of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, no interests were declared. |
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To approve & sign the
Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record. Decision: Approved. Minutes: Resolved that
the Minutes of the Gower AONB Advisory Group Meeting held on 15 February 2023 be approved and signed as a correct record. |
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Gower AONB Team Report. PDF 218 KB Decision: For information. Minutes: Paul Meller, Natural
Environment Manager, Mike Scott, Gower AONB Officer and Ursula Jones, Communities
and Nature Project Officer presented a ‘for information’ update report on the
following: - ·
Gower
Show – The Gower AONB Partnership would have a marquee as
usual, hosting a number of partners. ·
Gower
Dark Sky Community Application – a draft application for “Dark Sky
Community” status was submitted in January and a response was awaited from the
International Dark Sky Committee. The application had been acknowledged, and a
newly appointed project officer had been in communication. · Gower Dark Sky – Retro Fit Projects –
Ty Rhossili had been surveyed and lighting upgraded to meet the requirements of
the building’s use as well as adhering to dark sky standards. The Wales-wide
collaborative project was underway, with lighting consultants Ridge having
surveyed Gower AONB. A report with
recommendations for lighting improvements and estimated costings would be
provided in the coming months. ·
Port
Eynon Bay Dunes – work was being planned for September and no comments
had been received from the Community Councils. · Fairwood Common – Work to install a new water
connection at Moor Lakes was completed in March 2023, providing drinking water
for stock grazing the Common. Dormouse surveys were being undertaken to
ascertain their presence in suitable habitat on the Common. · Pennard Castle – Interpretation panels were
installed in 2022 and 2023. Stage 1 of the ivy removal works were underway, rare
plant seed had been collected and grown on at Celtic Wildflower Nurseries, and
a Scheduled Monument Consent application had been made. A contractor was in
place to undertake investigative works so that a tender document for Stage 2 of
the works (ivy removal & some restoration work) could be drawn up for
bidding contractors. · Gower Places of Worship – Initial surveys of
twelve churches were completed in 2022. The implementation of some recommendations
had commenced. New tower doors had been
installed at Oxwich and Llanrhidian to allow continued access by roosting bats.
Specialist surveys for bats and swift boxes were underway for several churches.
·
Clyne
Valley Country Park – Following a site visit with Corporate
Building Services, stabilisation work would start this autumn on the Ivy Tower.
Work was also being planned on the main buildings of the Clyne Woods Arsenic
Works, following an environmental survey. A planning application had been submitted for
replacement signage at Blackpill. Work to make the buildings at New Mill Farm
safe was underway. Biodiversity interpretation and a nature trail were installed in 2022. A second round of Japanese knotweed treatment was
scheduled for autumn 2023. The Council was working with Natural Resources Wales
on a survey of Clyne River to determine what restoration and flood mitigation
measures could be implemented with the help of CVCP. ·
Parkmill Japanese Knotweed – A third year of
treatment was scheduled for autumn 2023. A survey in spring 2024 would determine
the need for any further treatment. ·
SDF
Panel – The dates of the SDF Grant Panel had been confirmed for 2023/24
(30 June, 22 September, 8 December and 15 March 2024). ·
AONB
Advisory Group – The dates for the Advisory Group had been
confirmed for 2023/24 (26 June, 25 September and 26 February 2024). · NAAONB Rebrand – The National
Association of AONB’s was discussing a significant rebrand to address some of
the issues raised in the Marsden Report – mainly around inclusion and working
with under-represented communities, better communications, providing a more
unified image, seeking to achieve a higher profile, and greater recognition of
their contribution to nature recovery and climate change agendas. · AONB Team Staffing – An “AONB Nature and Communities Officer” post was being advertised, which would provide a third member of staff within the AONB team, enabling more project work to be carried out. Work on restructuring the Natural Environment Section was continuing. The Chair thanked the officers for the report. |
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Road and Village Signage. Decision: Noted. Minutes: Howard Evans, Gower Society highlighted the number and variety of road signs throughout Gower. He circulated a number of examples of the signage to the Group, which emphasised the lack of consistency of content, differences in style / design and in some cases, poor positioning which impacted upon visibility. The Group discussed the options available to progress the issue, highways / planning matters, enforcement. It was proposed that Highways be given the opportunity to respond to the issues raised. Resolved that: - 1) Highways be given the opportunity to respond to the issues raised. 2) The issue be discussed further at the next meeting. |
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Sustainable Development Fund - Financial Summary. PDF 110 KB Decision: For information. Minutes: Mike Scott, Gower AONB Officer presented the Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) Panel Financial Summary report ‘for information’. It was noted that the
£100,000 SDF budget for 2022/23, was fully spent and a total of 19 projects had
been supported. The Committed Funds
figure included the CCS Management Fee of £10,000.
It was added that a
detailed report would be produced over the summer and circulated to the Steering
Group, highlighting the work done by the projects which had been supported. In addition, the
SDF budget of £100,000 for 2023/24 had been confirmed by Welsh Government. To date, 14 projects had funding committed,
with a further 4 applications in progress. The Committed Funds
figure included the CCS Management Fee of £10,000.
It was confirmed that the next meeting of the SDF Grants Panel would be held on 30 June 2023. |