Agenda, decisions and minutes

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 24 June 2024, be approved and signed as a correct record.

Noted.

Mark Barber, Nature Recovery Principal Officer provided a presentation on Local Nature Partnership. Details provided in the presentation included: -

·       Swansea Local Nature Recovery Action Plan.

·       Local Nature Partnership.

·       LNRAP.

·       Nature Recovery Action Plan for Wales.

·       COP 15 – Time to tackle nature emergency.

·       Need / Process / Created with.

·       LNRAP Content.

·       Implementation and monitoring.

·       Use the LNRAP.

Discussions followed regarding the information provided.

The Chair thanked the officer for the presentation.

Noted.

Jake Cosgrove, Communities and Nature Project Officer and Sioned Johnstone, Outdoor Partnership provided a presentation on the Outdoor Partnership. Details provided included: -

·       Equality, diversity and inclusion in Gower.

·       Background setting / mission.

·       Protecting and including all.

·       Health and wellbeing benefits.

·       Who is excluded?

·       Legal context.

·       Outdoor Partnership – Swansea and Gower projects.

·       Our vision.

·       Start of the journey.

·       This girls adventure.

·       Hiking programme with EYST.

·       Land to water social prescribing programme.

·       Amser – Young carers programme.

·       Club and community support.

Links to the information outlined were provided.

The Advisory Group discussed the details provided in the presentation at length.

The Chair expressed his thanks for the presentation and discussion.

Noted.

Barbara Parry provided the Advisory Group with verbal feedback on the National Landscape Association Annua Conference.

She highlighted the very positive attitudes and learning experiences she encountered at the conference.  She emphasised the discussions that occurred surrounding farming, particularly sustainable farming and volunteer groups.

The Advisory Group discussed farming on Gower, registration of holdings, bird registration and how the farming industry could be supported.

The Chair expressed his thanks for the feedback.

Noted.

Kathryn Thomas, Community Greenspace Officer and Evelyn Gruchala, Natural Environment Volunteer Co-ordinator provided a verbal update regarding events and engagement.

Details were provided regarding the following: -

·       Drystone walling workshops at Overton and Rhossili.

·       Hedging at Caswell and Bishopston.

·       Gower orchards mapping.

·       Reaching out to Gower landowners.

·       Bishops’ Wood hazel dormouse project.

·       Explaining nocturnal wildlife.

·       Council website – available information.

The Chair thanked the officers for their update.

For information.

Mike Scott, Countryside Team Leader 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.

·       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.

·       Public engagement (nature).

·       Gower Places of Worship.

·       Clyne Valley Country Park.

·       Gower Show 2024.

·       NGED Undergrounding Group.

·       Vile Landscape Project.

·       National Landscapes Conference 2024.

·       Grant Funding.

Noted.

Partners reports and updates were provided as follows: -

1)    Gower Society

Howard Evans provided the Group with the following: -

·       Whiteford – the Society’s Green Team had gathered considerable evidence of sheep grazing destroying rare orchid species in Whiteford Burrows.  Unfortunately fences and gates were broken allowing sheep to graze freely on this SSSI.  A small group from the Green Team would start discussions with National Trust and Natural Resources Wales about how to protect these areas from grazing and hopefully install new fencing.  The danger was that these species might be lost forever if nothing is done soon.  Sadly, the Sands for Life project at Whiteford had not helped the biodiversity.

·       The Gower Society had been opposing the application for common land exchange to allow a housing development at West Cross Common. The Public Inquiry was held in early August but would continue at the end of November. After originally being an estimated 3-day hearing, it was going to take 6 ½ days to complete.  It had been a tremendous amount of work for two of the Society’s committee members, as well as being a hugely expensive legal operation for the Society.  The final decision is likely by mid-2025.

·       The Gower Show was a great success for the society.

·       Grants had been awarded to the Gower Walking Festival, improvements to Gower Way and new tree nursery set up by the Tree Society CIC based at Swansea University. The Society was hoping to support an application for Pennard Castle restoration of its north wall.  However, as its owners (Pennard Golf Club) and Cadw were not contributing any monies, the Society were unable to provide a grant.  Also, a grant application from Pennard Community Council towards pre-planning application costs for a new sports hub at Pennard playing fields was also declined as the Society felt the building was too ambitious, to make it practical and financially viable.

·       A meeting about the future of The Vile was held in Rhossili with other interested parties. Unfortunately, a second meeting had yet to be convened by the Countryside Team.

·       There was increasing frustration at the lack of progress in resolving long outstanding planning enforcement cases that had been raised with Swansea Council over the last 10 years or so.

·       Cartersford Woodland, which was unlawfully clear felled, was now for sale at £390,000. The owner, who was found guilty of illegal felling and prosecuted, could still make money out of his unlawful acts on this site if the sale goes through. The static caravan on the site should have been removed 5 years ago, but the Swansea Council had not yet enforced this.

For information.

Mike Scott, Countryside Team Leader 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.

To date, 14 projects had funding committed, which fully committed the current year’s budget. One project had reported that they were likely to have an underspend of around £2,000.

The Committed Funds figure included the City and County of Swansea Management Fee of £10,000.

For 2025/26:

The SDF budget for 2024/25 had not yet been confirmed by Welsh Government, but indications were that the funding would remain the same.

The grant offers included a statement that “funding was dependent upon Welsh Government funding being available”.

To date, 4 projects had funding committed, with 2 applications in progress.

The Committed Funds figure included the City and County of Swansea Management Fee of £10,000.