To receive apologies for absence

21.1    The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

21.2    Apologies had been received from George Chancellor, Heather Kidd, Sue Lee, Leo Smith and Chris Turley

The note of the meeting held on 8 November 2019 is attached for confirmation

22.1    The minutes of the meeting held on 8 October 2019 had been circulated

22.2    RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership held on 8 October 2019 be approved as a true record.

This paper provides information on two complementary community climate action partnerships, and seeks active engagement and support for these from Partnership members.

23.1    Members received the report of the AONB Partnership Manager which provided information on two complementary community climate action partnerships.

23.2    The AONB Partnership Manager informed the meeting that 2 community led partnerships had been set up, one covering South Shropshire and one covering the whole of the county and drew members attention to the various links to the partnerships contained in the report.

23.3    Members received a short presentation from Mark Fermor, Director Shropshire Climate Action Partnership. He explained that the Partnership was made up of local businesses, groups and individuals and was supported by both Shropshire Council and Telford & Wrekin Council and that there was currently in the region of 200 volunteers working to create a plan to show what the sustainable future of Shropshire looked like.  He informed the meeting that the draft plan would be published at the end of the year and urged all members of the Partnership to become involved.

23.4    The AONB Partnership Officer advised the meeting that Nick Read had been unable to join the meeting and explained that the South Shropshire Climate Action Group had been formed following a public event held in 2019 and had held a conference in September 2020.  He commented that whilst the group shared the same aims as the SCAP it also concentrated on the problems specific to South Shropshire. Members who had attended the conference commented that it was good that Philip Dunne had been involved, especially as he was Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee in Parliament.

23.5    The Chairman thanked Mark Fermor for attending and urged all members to get involved with the Partnerships.

This paper summarises some of the key issues raised in the AONB Partnership’s response to the Shropshire draft Local Plan consultation and considers future approaches to planning policy affecting the AONB.

24.1    Members received the report of the AONB Partnership Manager which summarised some of the key issues raised in the AONB’s response to the Shropshire draft Local Plan and setting out future approached to planning policy affecting the AONB

24.2    The AONB Partnership Manager reminded Members that the Partnership had responded to the latest consultation on the Local Plan and that the response had been circulated to members.  He welcomed the inclusion of a specific policy for the Shropshire Hills AONB and commented that this along with the reference to the AONB in a number of other policies gave added protection for the AONB.

24.3    The AONB Partnership Manager reminded Members that the possibility of developing an AONB specific Development Plan Document had been discussed at previous meeting but that in light of what is contained in new plan it was  felt that a separate planning document was not viable at the present time and that the AONB Team would continue to work with Planning Policy Team in other ways to advance the cause of the AONB.

24.4    The Principle Planning Policy Officer advised the meeting that there had been a large response to the latest consultation, and that some changes had been made to the plan as a result.  He explained that the revised plan would be taken to a forthcoming meeting of cabinet for approval to conduct a Regulation 19 consultation which if approved would last for a period of seven weeks and that following this a report would be taken to Council in March for approval to submit the plan for “examination”

24.5    RESOLVED:

            That the Partnership

a)    note the report and

b)    support the proposal not to take further at the present time the idea of a Development Plan Document (DPD) for the Shropshire Hills AONB

This paper provides background material to support brief presentations from the National Trust, Soil Association, NFU, Pollardine Farm, and Shropshire Wildlife Trust on the various ELM Test & Trials currently operating in the Shropshire Hills AONB.

25.1    Members received the report of the AONB Partnership Manager which provided background material to support presentations on the various ELM Test and Trials currently operating in the Shropshire Hills AONB.

25.2    The AONB Partnership Manager reminded the meeting that test & trials were being carried out over the whole of country and that all trials reported into DEFRA. He commented that each trial were independent of each other and not linked.

25.3    Presentations were received from Andrew Hearle, National Trust, Karen Fisher – Soil Association and Lizzie Hulton Harrop who outlined what work they were carrying out within their trials.  The AONB Partnership Officer updated the meeting on trials being carried out by the Shropshire Wildlife Trust and the NFU.

25.4    The Chair thanked all those that had given presentations.

This paper provides information on relevant recent activity of the National Association for AONBs and the Europarc Federation.

26.1    Members received the report of the AONB Partnership Manager which updated them on relevant recent activity of the National Association for AONBs and the Europarc Federation

26.2    The AONB Partnership Manager advised the meeting that representatives of the NAAONB were meeting with DEFRA representatives to discuss the Governments respone to the Glover Review

26.3    The AONB Partnership Manager updated the meeting on the Art in the Landscape Project which aimed to produce a National Arts Strategy for AONBs.  He advised that Funding & Programmes Officer had undertaken the online training and would e rolling out a programme in the new year.

26.4    RESOLVED:

            That the AONB Partnership

a)    Note the information in the report and;

b)    Adopt the NAAONB ‘Art in the Landscape’ Strategy

This agenda item provides an opportunity for partner updates on activity. 

27.1    Members received the report of the AONB Partnership Manager which gave updates on progress with the AONB Management Plan and the Green Recovery Challenge Fund bids.

27.2    The AONB Partnership Manager informed Members that it was good practice to update on actions contained in the Management Plan periodically, he asked Partners to update him where necessary in order that the plan was fully updated

27.3    The AONB Partnership Manager advised the meeting that the bid made by the AONB and the Wildlife Trust to the Green Recovery Challenge Fund had been unsuccessful.  He commented that the Fund had been oversubscribed and that Government had added a further £40M to the fund and opened a second round of bidding.

27.4    The Chairman asked all Members of the Partnership to let the Partnership Manager have any updates on the action plan so that a full report could be brought to the next meeting.

This paper highlights to members the current consultation on a Community and Rural Strategy for Shropshire, which runs till 6th December 2020.

28.1    Members received the report of the AONB Partnership Manager which gave details of the current consultation on a Community and Rural Strategy for Shropshire.

28.2    The AONB Partnership Manager updated the Partnership on the current consultation on a Community and Rural Strategy for Shropshire being carried out by Shropshire Council.  He advised the meeting that he would be making a response on behalf of the Partnership.

29.1    RESOLVED:

That the next meeting of the Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership would be held on Tuesday 9 March 2021 at 9.30am