Please ensure you sign the attendance record.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting held on 13 May 2011 Attached marked: A)

To report that an appeal against the refusal of Shropshire Council to grant planning permission for the erection of five poultry sheds, improvements to existing highway and creation of new access at Foxholes Farm Buildings, Little Ness, has been dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate.

Jan Cook has provided the following answer in respect of the question regarding speed limit buffer zones. ‘Buffer zones’ are used in a minority of circumstances when introducing a new 30 mph speed limit in a village. Each location is considered on its merits and a 40mph buffer zone applied when either: • There is considerable outlying development on the edge of village (development that is not of a density that justifies a extension of the 30 mph limit,but is not suitable for 60mph), or • There are high approach speeds (this tends to be on higher levels A and B roads) This approach is in line with Department for Transport guidance. It is not considered necessary or appropriate to apply a 40 mph buffer in all cases because approach speeds may already be low, or there might be enforcement issues of a 40mph limit where the environment does not help to re-enforce that speed limit (i.e. no development).

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

The Independent Panel on Forestry are seeking views on forests and woods in England, and what this landscape can and should provide, now and in the future. Background information on the work of the Independent Panel is available at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/forestry/panel./ Attached (marked: B) is a “call for views”. All LAF Members are asked to consider and bring to the meeting their answers to the questions in writing. The deadline for submitting views is 31 July 2011. The “Sale of the Public Forest” LAF Working Group have met and agreed a statement which will be appended to the response to the “call for views”. A copy is attached marked:C for discussion at the meeting.

At the last meeting differing views were expressed on whether the Forum should get involved in individual planning applications. The Forum advises Shropshire Council and other bodies on improving access to the countryside. As Forum members are volunteers and give their expertise and experience freely it is recognised in the constitution that there is a limit to the amount of time members can dedicate to the work of the Forum. It is stated that the Shropshire Local Access Forum will prioritise their time by identifying issues which are of special interest or relevance to the area in relation to access and open-air recreation. These are likely to include:- • Development of recreation and access strategies which cater for a wide range of people • Strategic improvements to the rights of way network • Implementation, management and review of the statutory right of access to the countryside. In addition to LAFs being statutory consultees on various matters, such as Rights of Way Improvement Plans and gating orders, it has also been suggested in national guidance that LAFs should be alert to situations where their advice may be valuable. Examples have been when plans, strategies and programmes are published by prescribed bodies which have access and recreation implications and when proposals for developments are publicised.

An oral report will be made by the Chair.

A report will be made by Jim Stabler.

An oral report by Richard Knight

An update will be given by Evelyn Stabler of Natural England

The Government’s White Paper on the Natural Environment entitled: The Natural Choice: securing the value of nature may be viewed at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/natural/whitepaper/ An extract from the press release and summaries for citizens, land managers and conservation organisations is attached marked: D

An update will provided by Jim Stabler.

Earlier this year representations were made about the draft charging schedule for the Community Infrastructure Levy. Sue Turner of the Planning Inspectorate has been appointed as the independent examiner of the Draft Charging Schedule. As part of her examination of the Draft Charging Schedule there will be public hearings, commencing at 10am, on 27 and 28 July 2011 at the Food Enterprise Centre, Vanguard Way, Shrewsbury.

The following minutes/papers are provided as updates for members: Shropshire Cycling Forum 2 March 2011 (attached marked: E) Letter from Richard Benyon MP, Minister for the Natural Environment and Fisheries (attached marked: F for information). The Alban Way is an off- road trail between Hatfield and St Albans, Hertfordshire (and forms part of National Cycle Network Route 61). The management plan states that Alban Way is not a designated right of way but has a permissive agreement in place to allow access for walkers and cyclists with reasonable accompaniment. Access is not permitted for horses except where bridleways cross, or for motorised vehicles other than for maintenance purposes.

David Wise is taking voluntary early retirement from Shropshire Council at the end of August 2011. The first meeting of the Joint Local Access Forum for Shropshire and the Borough of Telford and Wrekin was held on 27 June 2003 and David took over as Secretary on 30 November 2004. Mr Richard Thomas, Democratic Services and Elections Manager, has agreed that this role should continue to be provided and has put forward Mrs Linda Jeavons for appointment.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday 20 October 2011 Members are asked to suggest agenda items for the next meeting. The photocopied Agenda papers have been produced on recycled paper