Agenda, decisions and minutes

Resolved that Barbara Parry be elected Vice-Chair of the Advisory Group for the 2024-2025 Municipal year.

Resolved that Barbara Parry be elected Vice-Chair of the Advisory Group for the 2024-2025 Municipal year.

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

None.

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of

Swansea, no interests were declared.

To approve & sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record.

Approved.

Resolved that the Minutes of the Gower AONB Advisory Group meeting held

on 26 February 2024, be approved and signed as a correct record.

For information.

Mike Scott, Gower AONB Officer presented the Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) Panel Financial Summary report ‘for information’.

It was outlined that the SDF budget of £100,000 for 2024/25 had been confirmed by Welsh Government and that this was the last year of the 3-year grant funding currently agreed.

To date, 13 projects had funding committed and were underway, with a further application in progress at present. One project had reported an underspend in 2023/24, if they were unable to increase spend in 2024/25, their grant for 2024/25 would be reduced accordingly.

It was noted that the Committed Funds figure included the CCS Management Fee of £10,000.

The next meeting of the Sustainable Development Fund Grants Panel would be 23 September 2024.

It was confirmed that once agreed by the SDF Panel, the annual report would be circulated to the Group.

For information.

Mike Scott, Gower AONB Officer presented a ‘for information’ update report on progress made by the Gower AONB Team since the previous meeting, on the following areas: -

·       Gower AONB Management Plan.

·       Gower AONB Rebrand.

·       National Landscapes Launch Event – Senedd – 24 April 2024.

·       Tirweddau Cymru Landscape Wales Seminar – 16 / 17 May 2024.

·       Mumbles Lighthouse Island.

·       Gower Dark Skies Community Status.

·       Dark Skies – retro-fit projects.

·       St Marys Church, Knelston.

·       Backingstone Chapel.

·       Parking Issues.

·       Pennard Castle.

·       Gower Nature Recovery Programme.

·       Gower Places of Worship.

·       Clyne Valley Country Park.

·       Gower Show 2024.

·       Vile Landscape Project.

·       National Landscapes Conference 2024.

·       Grant Funding.

Noted.

Partners reports and updates were provided as follows: -

1.    Natural Resources Wales (NRW)

Hamish Osborn provided the Group with the following: -

·       Bathing water quality – tests would be taken between May and September 2024 and the testing process was outlined.  NRW were proactive in tracing pollution and the impact of surface water / run off from agricultural land on the quality was noted. The impact of sewerage on the water quality was noted.

·       Conservation Management – which involved the SSSI’s within the AONB, including the management of vegetation on the commons, the funding available and tendering for surveying the commons.

The current recruitment freeze within NRW and its impact was also noted.

2.    Gower Society

Howard Evans provided the Group with the following: -

·       Gower Show 2024 – this was the main focus from June onwards.  It was added that the Gower Society exhibit would include the exhibition of children’s art, photography and poetry competition, with the theme ‘My Gower’. It was highlighted that the Society was one of the main sponsors of the Gower Show.

·       Clyne Common – The Society’s planning committee were gathering evidence surrounding the new development at Clyne Common which proposed a common land exchange for housing, which the Society would oppose.

·       The Vile, Rhossili – The protection of the medieval field system was of great concern to the Society.

·       Planning Enforcement – the Society continued to report enforcement cases and concerns to Planning.

·       Grant funding – Details of funding awarded were outlined and it was highlighted that local schools could apply.

·       Green Team – The Green Team continued to host activities including a litter pick on Oxwich beach, orchid walks in Oxwich and bird watching in the Loughor Estuary.

·       Dark Skies Initiative – The Society were very supportive of the initiative.

·       Programme of walks / talks – These were continuing.

The Chair thanked the representatives for their reports.

Noted.

Jake Cosgrove, Communities and Nature Project Officer provided a detailed and informative presentation regarding events and engagements.  Details provided included: -

·       Welcome National Landscapes launch.

·       Dark skies.

·       Clyne Valley Country Park.

·       Support from Minister – Huw Iranca Davies.

·       Tirweddau Cymru Landscape Wales Seminar 2024.

·       Meeting Net Zero on Welsh farms.

·       OGWEN.

·       Race to Net Zero.

·       A multi-functional land use framework.

·       World Environment Day – NRW Nature and Us.

·       New Instagram account, updated Facebook page and the process of establishing a new website.

·       Summer solstice sungazing at Rhossili.

·       Light pollution – flyers.

·       City Nature Challenge – Evelyn Luge Partnership success.

·       Wales Nature Week – 29 June to 7 July 2024.

·       National Landscapes Annual Conference.

Howard Evans complimented the officer on the presentation and added that the influx of new officers into the AONB / Nature Conservation teams had brought a huge ‘freshness’ to the work area.

It was confirmed that officers were open to attend group meetings where their work could be highlighted.  

Noted.

Mike Scott, Gower AONB Officer reported that the Gower AONB Management Plan 2017 provided a 20-year vision for Gower, supported by 12 themes and 39 objectives. It was added that the management plan related to all those involved in Gower and was not purely a Council document.

It was noted that of the objectives, 13 were addressed by work carried out by the Gower Natural Landscapes Team, although there was some overlap with other objectives.  The management plan was adopted by Swansea Council as Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG), ensuring that it could be referred to in the planning process, particularly the Local Development Plan. 

In addition, the plan was a statutory document, to be reviewed every five years, with the next review scheduled to start this year. It was highlighted that this would be the first review since the declaration of the Climate and Nature Emergencies by Welsh Government and Swansea Council and this would require the plan to address these issues as a priority.

Details of the vision, priorities, funding, future direction and priorities were outlined.  The Committee were asked to consider the vision, priorities and objectives of the Management Plan and discussed the following: -

·       Consultation with the farming and tourism industries and wider consultation.

·       The potential impact of the Boundary Review currently being undertaken, on town and community councils.

·       The importance of consulting and involving the correct groups and linking it with the Management Plan.

·       The current Management Plan being widely available, funding and objectives going forward.

·       The importance of linking the Management Plan and Local Development Plan (LDP).

·       The importance of the Management Plan being inclusive.

·       Recognising that the vision was 20-years old and rewording it, bringing it up to date.

·       The timescales involved, particularly the consultation process.

·       Recognising the size of the task facing the team, the employment and costs of consultants.

Resolved that the contents of the discussions be noted.