Agenda and minutes
Venue: St Madoc Centre, Llanmadoc, Swansea, SA3 1DE. View directions
Contact: Democratic Services: - 636923
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Disclosures of Personal and Prejudicial Interests. 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 and sign as a
correct record the minutes of the previous meeting(s). Minutes: Resolved that the Minutes of the Gower AONB Partnership
Steering Group Meeting held on 11 December 2017, be accepted as a correct record. |
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Matters Arising from the Minutes. Minutes: Future Landscapes Wales – Governance Principles Report The Gower AONB Team Leader
informed the Steering Group that the original meeting with Wye Valley AONB on 1
March 2018 had been postponed due to snow. The meeting had been
re-scheduled to 24 April 2018. Membership It was
explained that a replacement would be sought for Rebecca Wright whose
role with NRW had changed and was not so relevant to the Steering Group. |
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Minutes: The Gower AONB Team Leader provided the Statement on
Designated Landscapes dated 13 March 2018 by Hannah Blythyn AM, Minister for
Environment. He highlighted the main points outlined in the
statement including: publishing a policy statement
ending the review process; the impact of Brexit and future land management; supporting
the land / products; safeguarding and realising the benefits of public goods; and
strengthening the status and scrutiny of management plans. Resolved that the contents of the report be noted. |
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Gower Dark Sky Survey. PDF 549 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Gower AONB
Team Leader presented the Gower Dark Sky Survey report. It was outlined that Dark Sky Wales Training Services were commissioned in December 2017 by
Swansea Council to undertake a baseline study of dark sky quality within the
Gower AONB. The study was
undertaken during December 2018 on clear and moonless nights. The report highlighted the findings from the
study and included recommendations for progressing Dark Sky activities in the
area. He informed the Group of the requirements
required and added that in order to achieve dark skies status,
several different issues had to be in place.
These included issues such as having an adequate baseline and monitoring
system, a lighting plan and new developments complying with the scheme. An event at Rhosilli
had been organised on 15 April 2018 as a taster event and a number of tickets had been purchased. The Group discussed the report and were very
positive regarding the possibility of the AONB achieving dark skies
status. The importance to tourism was highlighted along with the need to get businesses
involved in the process. The Chair commented that the recommendations
provided by Dark Skies Wales contained within the report were a good starting
point. These included: • Introduce an education program for;
I.
General
Public
II.
Schools III.
AONB
staff and volunteer groups IV.
Swansea
Council staff • Conduct annual SQM studies to monitor light
pollution levels; • Enter into dialogue with representatives
from Swansea Council to examine possible reductions in light pollution from the
Mumbles/City area; • Enter into dialogue with Camarthenshire County Council to examine the possible
reduction in light pollution from Llanelli/Bury Port areas; • Engage with business in the area to promote the use of dark skies during
the summer months to increase economic prosperity in the area. The Strategic Planning & Natural Environment Manager commented that the Council had supplementary planning guidance regarding light which would be reviewed post publication of the Local Development Plan. He added that it was important to consult the public regarding the aims of achieving dark skies status. The Gower AONB
Team Leader added that all AONB’s in Wales were looking to achieve dark skies
status and would look to progress matters by working in partnership to reduce
costs. Resolved that: - 1)
The recommendations contained within the report be
approved; 2)
A further report be provided to the Annual meeting. |
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Natural Resources Wales - AONB National Partnership Programme 2018-2021. PDF 411 KB Minutes: The Gower AONB Team Leader introduced the Natural
Resources Wales (NRW) – AONB National Partnership Programme 2018-2021. He highlighted the support and grant funding
provided by NRW and the support they would be providing during the next 3 years,
which was enormously beneficial to the AONB. Hamish Osborn, NRW commented on the Partnership Programme
and highlighted the partnership working between the AONB Team, Nature Conservation
Team and NRW. He also referred to the
projects being supported on Gower. Resolved that
the contents of the report be noted. |
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Sustainable Development Fund Report. PDF 92 KB Minutes: The Gower AONB Officer presented the Sustainable Development
Fund (SDF) report. It was
reported that Welsh Government had confirmed the SDF budget for 2017/18
as £55,000. There were currently 18
projects with SDF funding for 2017/18, which had fully committed the funds for
2017/18. The Committed Funds figure included the CCS Management Fee
of £5,500 (10%).
SDF budget for 2018/19 and 2019/20 had
been confirmed as £55,000, with an indication that the budget for
2020/21 would be the same. The fund was heavily committed, with £26,590 (with another £22,000 anticipated) committed for 2018/19, and £27,650 (with a further £25,000 anticipated) for 2019/20. Resolved that the
contents of the report be noted. |
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Gower Landscape Partnership. PDF 191 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Gower AONB Team Leader presented the Gower Landscape Partnership (GLP) financial report from the 15 February GLP meeting. He stated that there was a large amount of work to be completed and two Board meetings were scheduled prior to the end of the programme. He would be meeting with the External Funding Team to assess the spend prior to project completion. He added that he had been contacted by the Heritage Lottery Monitoring Officer, who had been appointed to monitor the programme. The Officer had stated that GLP were not a cause for concern and were seen as a low risk project. This was largely due to the manner in which the External Funding Team had managed the project closure. A final report would be forwarded to HLF in July 2018. A monitoring plan must also be finalised, along with educational work with schools / groups being identified. Resolved that the contents of the report be noted. |
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Dates of Future Meetings 2018-2019. 7 p.m. on: - · 25 June 2018 · 24 September 2018 · 3 December 2018 · 25 March 2019 Minutes: The dates of meetings in 2018-2019 were provided. It was added that the Annual Meeting scheduled for 25 June 2018 would be held at Down To Earth, Little Bryngwyn Site. |