To receive apologies for absence

26.1    The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and reminded those present that this would be a shorter meeting as the Annual tour was due to commence at 11.00am.

26.2    Apologies for absence had been received from Gill Binks (Caring for Gods Acre), Mike Brogden (Shropshire Tourism), Leo Smith (Shropshire Ornithological Society / Upper Onny Wildlife Group), Chris Turley (Telford & Wrekin Council) and John Woolmer (Individual Member)

The note of the meeting held on 6 March 2018 is attached for confirmation

27.1    The Note of the meeting held on 6 March 2018 had been circulated.

27.2    RESOLVED:

That the note of the meeting of the Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership held on 6 March 2018 be agreed as a true record.

This paper updates Partnership members on work by the Management Board to revise the Terms of Reference of the Partnership and of its sub-group the Management Board.

28.1    Members received the report of the AONB Partnership Manager which gave an update on work being carried out by the Management Board to recommend revisions to the Terms of Reference for the Partnership and the Management Board.

28.2    The Chair reminded members that following the decision not to pursue alternative methods of governance pending the outcomes of the national review of National Parks and AONBs, it had been agreed that the Management Board should look at the current Terms of Reference and bring suggested amendments to the Partnership for agreement.

28.3    The Chair advised members that the Management Board had set up a sub group which had met on two occasions and had reported back to the last meeting of the Management Board.  He reported that the group had received legal advice from Shropshire Council, which had recommended stripping out explanatory background and sticking to clauses describing role of the committee, and that the Terms of Reference for the Management Board should be a separate document.  A new draft of terms of reference had been drawn up by himself and Officers on this basis which had been considered by the Management Board and that these documents would be brought to the next meeting of the Partnership for approval.

28.4    Mr Chancellor commented that the process of updating the Terms of Reference presented an opportunity for the Partnership to strengthen its relationship with Shropshire Council.

28.5    Following a query the AONB Partnership Manager confirmed that following approval by the Partnership, the Partnership Terms of Reference would need to be approved by Shropshire Council and Telford and Wrekin Council.

 This paper provides a brief update on AONB team work programme activity since the last meeting

29.1    Members received the report of the AONB Partnership Manager which provided a brief update on work carried out by the AONB team since the last meeting of the Partnership.

29.2.   The AONB Partnership Manager took the meeting through the report and highlighted the following:-

•      Work in connection with the Stiperstones and Corndon Hill Landscape Partnership was nearly complete and work on the development of a number of legacy projects was continuing.

•      The Shuttle Bus Service had commenced on 12 May with the service now being delivered by Boultons.  A Shuttles Supporters scheme had been launched and was raising funds via the AONB Trust.

•      Cath Landles was progressing work with the three commons involved in the ‘Our Common Cause’ upland commons project.

•      Officers had had input into new planning guidance on poultry sheds and ammonia, and a meeting had been held with planning officers to discuss a number of topics.

•      Responses had been made to the consultations on Defra Agricultural policy and the National Planning Framework consultations.

29.3    Mrs Kidd commented that with regard to planning policy within the AONB, consideration needed to be given to the type of housing required including 2 or 3 bedroom family homes.

29.4    The Chair advised members that the Friends Group would have a presence at the Hay Meadow Festival at the Bog on 7 July.

This paper updates Partnership members on the Heritage Lottery funding received for two years for the Partnership and Shropshire Hills AONB Trust to work collaboratively on development of Business Plans and income generation.

30.1    Members received the report of the AONB Partnership Manager which updated members on the Heritage Lottery funding received for two years to enable the Partnership and the Shropshire Hills AONB Trust to work collaboratively on development of business plans and income generation.

30.2    The AONB Partnership Manager reminded members that the Resilient Heritage funding stream was aimed at helping organisations involved with heritage to develop themselves and build future capacity. He then highlighted some of the work that would be carried out.

30.3    Ms Caffyn welcomed the funding as it would enable the Partnership to carry out work where capacity had prevented work being carried out in the past.  She asked whether there would be an opportunity for Partnership members to be involved.  The AONB Partnership Manager advised her that it was planned that small groups would be set up to take some of the work forward and that there would be an opportunity for Partnership members to be part of these groups.

30.4    Mrs Kidd commented that the AONB Partnership needed to raise more awareness of what it did and the many projects that it was involved with.  Several members suggested that articles should be placed in parish and village newsletters as a way of raising the profile of the AONB.  Ms Caffyn suggested that more use could be made of the ‘E’ newsletter.

This paper updates Partnership members on the findings from the two month web-based public survey on the Management Plan review, and progress with the Review overall.

31.1    Members received the report of the AONB Partnership Manager which updated them on the findings from the two month web-based public survey on the Management Plan review and progress with the review.

31.2    The AONB Partnership Manager reminded the meeting that the public survey was open during April and May, and that following wide publicity a total of 203 responses had been received.

31.3    The AONB Partnership Manager informed members that the new draft plan would now be brought to the October meeting of the Partnership before public consultation, rather than the June meeting.  This revised timetable would still allow time for all the stages to be completed by the end of March 2019.

31.4    Mr Chancellor commented on the age profile of respondents to the survey and commented that there was work to be done to develop contact with younger people, outside of the good work already being done with schools.  Mrs Kidd commented that it may be necessary to look at other forms of on-line communication. 

This agenda item gives Partnership members an opportunity to consider the topics in the forthcoming national review of National Parks and AONBs, and potential areas on which the Partnership may wish to express views.

32.1    Members received the report of the AONB Partnership Manager which set out topics contained in the forthcoming review of National Parks and AONBs and potential areas on which the Partnership may wish to comment.

32.2    The AONB Partnership Manager reminded members that a national review of National Parks and AONBs had been announced as part of the DEFRA 25 Year Environment Plan and that the Terms of Reference had been published in May. 

32.2    Several members raised the possibility of the AONB becoming a National Park.

32.3    Mrs Kidd commented that there needed to be a review of the AONB boundary as there were several anomalies within her area.  Ms McDowell commented that Natural England were currently looking AONB boundaries as part of a review.

32.4    The Chairman asked members to feed any further comments to the AONB Partnership Manager.

Members are reminded that the next meeting of the Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership will be held on Tuesday 23 October 2018 at 9.30am

33.1    Members were reminded that the next meeting of the Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership would be held on Tuesday 23 October 2018 at 9.30am