Issue - meetings

Sue Fletcher, Head of Landscape, presented the report the purpose of which is to inform Members about the Authority’s progress in landscape and nature recovery since January 2024 and what this means for the future.  This is an annual update on the management plan aims. It was noted that paragraph 3.44 needs to be removed from the report. 

A presentation was given to Members from the following Officers:-

·         Sarah Bird, Nature Recovery Officer

·         Rebekah Newman, FiPL Programme Manager

·         Jackie Wragg, Morridge Hill Country Project Manager

            Officers were thanked for their presentation and there were questions and comments       from Members which covered the following subjects:-

·         Whether there were any plans to re-introduce or trans-locate any endangered species into the project area.  This is being considered as part of the development phase.

·         The impact that the work is having and progress against targets would be helpful information to have.  This would provide a measure of what is effective and what is not working well as some may be delivering better value for money than others.  The AI mapping would be a good tool to track this.  There are some figures available and more can be provided.  Tasked by DEFRA  each year to complete 49 headlines for each project.  It would be helpful to have descriptions of the inputs and also descriptions of the outputs along a strategic overview and to be able to demonstrate as an Authority the benefits that are being created.

·         The final version of the consultation response is available and will be circulated to Members. 

·         The local nature recovery strategy is seen as soft influencing rather that hard influencing and does seem to be bureaucracy heavy.  There are six Local Nature Recovery Strategies that cover the Peak District and these seem to use slightly different methodologies. 

·         The map on page 68 of the report showing the different counties involved raises some concerns around the mapping.  Concern that as a result of guidance from DEFRA there may be restriction on funding in the future.

The recommendation as set out in the report was proposed, seconded, put to the vote and carried.

RESOLVED:

1)    To note progress in delivering to the Peak District National Park Management Plan 2023-28 and Authority Plan landscape and nature recovery aim and targets.