Members are requested to stand for a minute’s silence in memory of David Shelley, who sadly died on 5 December 2010.

Please ensure you sign the attendance record.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting held on 21 October 2010 (attached marked: A)

To receive any questions, statements or petitions of which notice has been received from members of the public.

Shropshire Council are facing difficult decisions in the short and medium term, as financial pressures increase on the budget for the provision of supported local bus services. This will affect the delivery and sustainability of bus services in all areas of the county. Shropshire Council must ensure that the money which is available is targeted at bus services which are essential in enabling people to go about their daily lives. Shropshire Council are consulting with people across Shropshire during January to March 2011 about proposed changes to local bus services. These changes will be laid out in the Bus Strategy for Shropshire Council 2011 – 2016. A presentation will be made by Jonathan Hayes, Principal Transport Officer.

The bus strategy forms part of the Local Transport Plan, which was the subject of a presentation at the last meeting from Jan Cook. A survey on priorities can be undertaken on line at http://shropshire.gov.uk/transportconsultation

Report attached marked: B

Verbal update by Neil Willcox, Head of Leisure and Outdoor Recreation

Jonathan Felton, Senior Specialist for Access and Recreation, Natural England will make an oral report.

Shropshire Council have adopted county wide Interim Planning Guidance (IPG) pending the development of new policies as part of the Council’s Local Development Framework (LDF). The purpose of the Interim Planning Guidance is to address the inconsistency and uncertainty which arose from the different policy approaches in ‘saved’ Local Plans which all contain policies which require developer contributions towards public open space. The IPG will apply a standard tariff, in the interests of consistency and fairness, and then tailor it to meet local needs. It will provide consistent and more up to date and locally sensitive advice concerning the calculation of open space and recreation provision to be provided as part of new developments, following the Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study which recognised areas of deficiency in types of open spaces across all areas of Shropshire. Mark Blount, Leisure and Outdoor Recreation Manager, will provide further details at the meeting including future changes on the horizon.

A report will be made by Lisa Barlow, of the Shropshire Wildlife Trust, on the conservation of the natural and historic environment within the Meres and Mosses area.

An update on changes to the remit and membership of the Walking Forum will be made by Alison Parker.

Presentation by Richard Knight, Access Maintenance Team Leader.

A report by Phil Holden, Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership Manager on the Sustainable Tourism Strategy for the Shropshire Hills, currently being prepared,is attached marked:C

Report by Jim Stabler, Access Development Officer (attached marked: D)

Three copies of the draft handbook have been produced by Jim Stabler for the Chair, Jane Ing to distribute for comments.

In December representations were made to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by Jane Ing, on behalf of the Forum, against the decision that future Higher Level Stewardship schemes will no longer include payments for permissive and educational access, other than grants for capital works. These representations were also copied to Shropshire MPs. A copy of a response from DEFRA dated 4 January 2011 is attached marked: E

Oral report by Jane Ing.

The following minutes/papers are provided as updates for members: Byways Liaison Group Minutes of 16 September 2010 (attached marked: F) Shropshire Cycle Forum Minutes of 7 December 2010 (attached marked: G) Access newsletter issue No. 47 (attached marked: H)

Members are asked to suggest agenda items for the next meeting on Wednesday 27 April 2011. Jan Cook has agreed to attend the next meeting to talk about Quiet Lanes and give an update on the Local Transport Plan.

Possible dates for 2011/12 starting at 10.00 a.m. are as follows: Wednesday 15 July 2010 Thursday 21 October 2011 Monday 23 January 2012 Tuesday 1 May 2012 It is suggested that an away day should be held at Ellesmere.