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Election of Vice-Chair for the 2021-2022 Municipal Year. Decision: Resolved that Councillor L James be elected Vice-Chair for the 2021-2022 Municipal year. Minutes: Resolved that Councillor L James be elected Vice-Chair for the 2021-2022 Municipal year. |
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Disclosures of Personal and Prejudicial Interests. Decision: In accordance with the Code
of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, the following
interests were declared: - Councillors P R
Hood-Williams, P Lloyd and M Thomas declared personal interests in Minute No.8
- Sustainable Landscapes Sustainable Places - Award of Grant and Identified
Projects. Minutes: In accordance with the Code
of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, the following
interests were declared: - Councillors P R
Hood-Williams, P Lloyd and M Thomas declared personal interests in Minute No.8
- Sustainable Landscapes Sustainable Places - Award of Grant and Identified
Projects. |
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To approve and sign as a
correct record the minutes of the previous meeting(s). Decision: Noted. Minutes: Resolved that
the Minutes of the Steering Group Meeting held on 15 March 2021 be approved as a correct record. |
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Sustainable Development Fund - Financial Summary. (Mike Scott) PDF 106 KB Decision: Noted. Minutes: Mike Scott, Gower AONB Officer presented the Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) Panel Financial Summary report ‘for information’. It
was highlighted that Welsh Government had confirmed the SDF budget for 2021/22 at
£100,000. 14 projects had been approved
so far, with £88,000 committed, and one further application currently under
consideration for £12,000. The Committed Funds
figure included the CCS Management Fee of £7,500.55.
It was added that
an application was approved at the Grants Panel meeting on 28 June 2021, which
fully committed the SDF grant scheme budget for 2021/22. |
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Sustainable Development Fund - Proposed Amendments to Terms of Reference. (Mike Scott) PDF 201 KB Decision: Noted. Minutes: The Gower AONB Officer presented a report which outlined
that following discussions with Welsh Government, the
Authority was considering some changes to the Terms Of
Reference governing the SDF Grants Panel. These changes were aimed at ensuring that the membership
of the panel was diverse and well placed to implement the Sustainable Grant
Scheme locally. The Welsh Government - Key Recommendations for
SDF Panels were provided as follows: - 1)
The SDF Panel should consist of a diverse
demographic of members, with representation from the AONB’s Partnership where
required. 2)
Any pre-existing membership arrangements; where for
example an SDF panel member is also required to sit on an AONB Partnership
panel, should not be dissolved. This requirement can over-rule point 3
covering maximum term if necessary. 3)
Panel members should serve for a minimum of 2 years
and for no longer than 3 years, with any new panel members shadowing the
exiting member for 1 year. 4)
Panel appointment should be through a rolling
programme carried out by the AONB staff with no more than one third of the
panel being replaced in any one year. 5)
Panel members are required to undertake basic
training to keep themselves abreast of the aims and purposes of the SDF and the
AONB. It was added that the Gower AONB Steering Group would remain central to
the governance of the AONB Partnership, which appointed to the SDF Grants and
the SDF Appeals Panels. The proposed amendments to the Terms of Reference would be reported to
the next scheduled Steering Group meeting, prior to be presented for approval
to the Constitution Working Group and Council. Resolved that the
contents of the report be noted. |
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Additional documents: Decision: Noted. Minutes: Chris Lindley, Gower AONB Team Leader presented a report
which advised that further to discussions at the Steering Group meeting in March 2021, the Gower AONB Team had developed
project proposals with partners for consideration / approval of Welsh
Government and the National Designated Landscapes Partnership (NDLP). Appendix 1 provided
the report to Swansea Council Cabinet on 17 June 2021 which outlined further
details on the grant and the proposed projects. The Steering Group
highlighted the following: - ·
Proposals
outlined for Fairwood Common, particularly future management, the development
of scrub as a result of under grazing, encouraging those with grazing rights to
use it and put stock onto the Common; ·
Working
in partnership with Gower Commoners to improve the situation; ·
The
potential introduction of fenceless systems / livestock collars to control
movement; ·
Improvement
of public access onto Fairwood Common; ·
The
development of a secure area on Swansea Council owned land just off Fairwood
Common to prepare livestock prior to them being released onto the Common; ·
Concern
as to whether the funding for Pennard Castle would be used to improve the
access to the beach. Resolved that: - 1)
The contents
of the report be noted; 2) The Gower AONB Team Leader discusses the
access to the beach at Pennard Castle with Pennard Golf Club. |
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Gower Society - Woodland Project Proposal. (Gordon Howe) PDF 127 KB Decision: Noted. Minutes: Gordon Howe, Gower Society presented a report which sought the views of the Steering Group on a woodland project proposal. It was
outlined that the Gower Society would be celebrating the 75th Year since its
first, and formation meeting, in 2023. The Founder Meeting was held
in the Royal Institution in January 1948. The
Society were minded to consider a project in partnership with others that
would produce a lasting and indelible positive impact upon the AONB. One
project for consideration included the planting of a significant area of mixed
woodland either on land that is designated or purchased specifically for the
purpose. A scheme, such as a new
woodland, would encourage wildlife, replace trees lost through disease in the
AONB, link up with other woodlands, reserves as well as being educational
and accessible for all by cycle and public transport. The
Society would like to attract, with others, considerable sums of money from
Government and private sources that would make this a truly worthwhile and a
National Welsh project. The
Steering Group were very supportive of the proposal and the Gower AONB Team
Leader referred to the Welsh Government initiative to introduce a National
Forest for Wales which would not be specific to one area of land. The
Gower AONB Officer added that Swansea Council Nature Conservation Team would be
happy to assist with the proposal. Paul Thornton, Wildlife Trust added that his
organisation were also supported the proposal. Resolved that: - 1)
The Steering Group supports the proposal for a woodland project; 2)
The Gower AONB Team Leader facilitates further discussions and
obtains further information regarding the National Forest for Wales initiative. |
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Roadside Verge Management. (Chris Lindley / Highways) PDF 197 KB Additional documents: Decision: Noted. Minutes: The Gower AONB Team Leader presented a report regarding Roadside Verge Management. It was highlighted that Steering Group members had previously raised the matter of highway verge
management within the AONB and had asked for this to be discussed at a Steering
Group meeting. Appendix 1 provided
a paper considered by the Swansea Council Economy, Environment and
Infrastructure Policy Development Committee on 22 April 2021 considering these
matters. He also made
reference to a report provided by Philip Sterling, Dorset County Council
regarding the positive impact of changing cutting regimes. The Steering Group
discussed the following: - ·
The positive
impact of more plants and flowers while not affecting access / safety issues on
the highway; ·
Introducing
any change in a measured way including cutting less and removing the arising’s to
reduce the fertility of the soil and reduce future growth; ·
Communicating
effectively with the public when introducing change, clearly explaining why
change was being introduced and addressing changes community by community; ·
How
some verges must be cut due to road safety; ·
The
progress made by the Authority, including grant funding obtained for the
purchase of equipment; ·
How
dealing with the issues community by community was have a positive impact, for
example, not cutting the hedges / verges west of Old Walls, which had increased
the diversity and had seen the re-emergence of British flowers / plants; ·
The
overall reduction in wildflower planting by the Authority, recognising their positive
impact upon communities and the long term need to introduce alternative
methods; ·
The
complaints received from the public regarding how uncut hedgerows / verges were
pushing traffic into the centre of roads / affecting traffic flow; ·
How
natural solutions can provide psychological traffic calming; ·
Recognizing
that one size does not fit all and providing a balance. Resolved that the contents of the report and discussions be noted. |
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Informal Camping / Overnight Parking. (Mike Scott) PDF 217 KB Decision: Noted. Minutes: The Gower AONB Officer provided a report which highlighted
the issues caused by informal camping
and overnight parking. It was outlined
that like many parts of the UK, Gower had seen continuing growth in visitor
numbers over the past few years which had been increased by the effects of
COVID 19 restrictions on overseas travel during 2020 and 2021. Many places on Gower had issues with two
particular types – camping and overnight parking by motorhomes or campervans. It was added that
in most cases, it was not so much the presence of those involved, it was
usually the associated anti-social behaviour (noise, environmental damage,
litter, etc.). Sometimes it occurred because
visitors could not find official camping sites, however, more often it was a deliberate
choice. It was further
commented that the legal situation was complex, differing between location and
type. Frequently used terminology
included: - · Wild
Camping – traditionally lightweight, was done in small numbers and only for two
or three nights in any one place, usually as part of a walking or cycling trip.
Technically, a civil offence rather than a legal one, it had sometimes been
tolerated by landowners, usually being discrete and leaving no trace. · Informal
or Freedom Camping – was a widely adopted term for overnight parking or camping
on the roadside, either in vehicles or tents.
It is legal on the highway but may be a civil offence on private land. · Dirty
Camping - where people committed other offences such as littering, causing
environmental damage (e.g. driving on sensitive vegetation or cutting trees for
fires) or cause disturbance or nuisance to others. This may be a civil offence,
but was more likely to be a criminal one. The main issue of
concerns was how these different situations were dealt with because in respect
of civil offences, the responsibility rests with the landowner. The addition of anti-social behaviour would
attract the possible involvement of the Police, but it was often a low priority
and frequently took a good deal of time to resolve, usually occurring at
weekends or in the evenings. Previously the AONB
Ranger and local Police mounted regular joint patrols to “hot spots”. However, neither organisation had the
resources to undertake the work at present.
The AONB Team, working with partners, recently dealt with informal
camping on Cefn Bryn by limiting vehicle access and the same approach may have
to be taken elsewhere. The measures taken to address the issues were rarely
simple, quick or cheap and often move the problem to another site, impacting
upon other users. The cumulative
effect of informal camping, particularly dirty camping, could
be huge on local communities, often
experiencing repeated anti-social behaviour and damage / littering. It was
often beyond individual landowners capacity to address
the issues and was best tackled on a partnership approach. The Steering Group
discussed the following: - · Social
media highlighting sites for camper vans; · The
difficulties in dealing with the issues for landowners and lack of Police
involvement unless landowners are threatened; · The
huge demand for these activities and the type of person they attracted, who
wanted to avoid paying for overnight accommodation; · Similar
issues encountered, but on a much larger scale, in the Scottish Highlands; · The issues
encountered at Southgate such as litter and human waste due to no toilet
facilities being available; · The lack
of respect shown to the countryside by those undertaking such activities /
attending mini raves and the lack of Police numbers for enforcement; · Proposed
legislative changes which could potentially criminalize such actions. Resolved that the contents of the report and discussions be noted. |