The minutes of the meeting held on 17 January 2020 were approved as a correct record.

The Chief Executive gave the following update on the Authority’s current position with regard to the  Coronavirus (Covid 19) emergency restrictions and latest Government advice:

·         Returning to Work - Staff who were able to work from home were continuing to do so.  Government advice for employers on staff returning to work places was being considered and a gradual return for those staff unable to work from home or were outdoor workers was being planned.

·         Increased Exercise and Travel – The Authority’s message to visitors was to ask them to consider if their journey to the National Park was necessary and to use local green spaces elsewhere.  Not all places are open including visitor centres, toilets, cafes and restaurants.  Those people that do visit are asked to respect local communities and environments, not to leave litter or have Bar-B-Qs and keep to social distancing requirements.

Cllr C McLaren joined the meeting at 10.15am

There were no items of urgent business.

Members are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary, personal or prejudicial interests they may have in relation to items on the agenda for this meeting.

Item 6

Cllr C Farrell declared that she was a local resident of Hope Valley, which the green lanes affected, and was a regular walker of the routes.

Cllr G Heath declared she had spoken with Staffordshire County Council with regards to the green lanes at Rakes and Hollinsclough but did not have a personal interest.

Items 8, 9 and 10

Cllr R Walker declared a personal interest as Chair of the Future Landscapes Group which was involved in work at Wessenden.

To note any questions or to receive any statements, representations, deputations and petitions which relate to the published reports on Part A of the Agenda.

Three members of the public had submitted statements to the meeting.

The Rights of Way Officer, introduced the report which gave details of the implementation of the Authority’s strategy for the management of recreational motorised vehicles on unsealed highways and off-road and included an update on the progress in 2019/20 and action plans for green lanes, illegal use and communications for 2020/21.  She highlighted the following areas of future work:

·         Miles without Stiles – further routes and accessibility improvements were being considered including Long Causeway as a potential future route.

·         Stay on Track – this is being developed with volunteers to include the identification and promotion of the conservation interest of verges and reinstatement works.

·         Sharing the History – this year the focus will be on Peak District packhorse trails and it is hoped to include a heritage open day in September.

·         #Peak District Proud – this initiative provides the opportunity to promote responsibility on green lanes and to support and revitalise the Green Lanes Code.

The following persons had given notice to speak under the public participation at meetings scheme but had asked for their statements to be read out as they were not present at the meeting.  The meeting moderator read statements out on behalf of:

·         Sue Woods, Peak District Green Lanes Alliance

·         Patricia Stubbs

·         Anne Robinson, Friends of the Peak District

In response to the statements the Rights of Way Officer stated that not all routes were suitable for Miles without Stiles but Minninglow would be considered.  With regard to issues at Pindale the concerns of Historic England and Natural England would be considered.  In response to the concerns raised regarding the temporary TRO on Swan and Limer Rakes it was noted that Staffordshire County Council were intending that repairs would be completed by the end of March 2021.

The report was welcomed by Members and Officers thanked for their ongoing hard work; the recommendation was moved.

Cllr Gill Heath stated that as a Staffordshire County Councillor her understanding of Swan and Limer Rakes was a permanent TRO not just repairs.  She will try to clarify the situation with Staffordshire CC.

In response to Members’ queries the Officer stated that interpretation would include details along routes including plant species in verges and history, there would be information on the website and guided walks would be planned.  Involvement was also planned for the National Parks 70^th anniversary and Peak District Local Access Forum 20^th anniversary.  With regard to voluntary restraint Officers thought it was working, that it engaged route users and allowed repairs to take effect.  The effect of use on repaired routes would be monitored.

The motion for the report recommendation was moved and seconded.  The motion was then put to the vote and carried.

RESOLVED:

1.    To note the report.

2.    That the requirement and scope of a follow-up report is considered in the context of a broader recreational review.

The Safety Officer introduced the report which provided evidence that Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) performance was satisfactory and continuously improving through 2019.  The report also included a summary of the Authority’s actions so far to mitigate the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and compliance with Government guidance.  It was noted that further Government advice had been issued since the report was written and the new advice was being distilled and disseminated to Staff.  Information was also being shared and discussed with other National Park Authorities.

The recommendation was moved and seconded.

In response to Members’ queries the Officer stated that the Authority had homeworking guidelines in place and were considering any specific issues raised.  Staff had been supported by the IT Team and equipment from Aldern House was available, regular updates including health and wellbeing were sent to all Staff from the Human Resources Team.  With regard to outdoor working advice from the Government and the Health and Safety Executive was being considered and Staff would be updated.

The motion was put to the vote and carried.

RESOLVED:

1.    The work, summarised in the report, to deliver continuing improvements in OSH management at PDNPA through 2019, is recognised.

2.     Proposals for priorities to be addressed from 2020 are endorsed.

The Head of Programme Delivery – Moors for the Future (MFF) introduced the report which gave details of the eighth Operational Plan from the Moors for the Future Partnership.  The Plan included the commitments for the financial year 2020/21 and a look forward at the expectations of business development during and beyond this time frame.  A video accompanying the report had been sent to Members to view before the meeting.  Members were asked to recommend the Plan to the Partnership Group.

In response to Members’ queries the Officer stated that PhD and other student placements were funded by the relevant Universities although there was a time resource to MFF regarding supervision so work was prioritised with regard to MFF requirements.  There were currently no issues regarding Covid-19 working requirements as most work was lone work or adequately distanced.   Due to the rapid shutdown of work there may be some loss of plant material in storage, some work had to be postponed but now considering if they can restart it subject to risk assessments.

The recommendation was moved and seconded.  This was put to the vote and carried.

RESOLVED:

That the Programmes and Resources Committee supports the Operational Plan

and the interim Business Plan and recommends it to the Moors for the Future

Partnership’s Strategic Management Group.

The Head of Programme Delivery – Moors for the Future (MFF) introduced the report which gave details of the proposal to extend vital peatland restoration works in the Dark Peak and South Pennines working directly with Water Company partners through Asset Management Period 7 (AMP7) between 2020-2024.  It was noted that the report had originally been planned for the cancelled Programmes and Resources Committee meeting in March and that the risk assessment needed to be updated in light of the Covid-19 situation.

The recommendation was moved, seconded, put to the vote and carried.

RESOLVED:

To support the proposed establishment of partnering agreements and associated contracts between the National Park Authority and Water Company partners for MFFP to deliver AMP 7 habitat restoration aspirations (capital works) and associated research and communications outcomes.

Specifically:

1)    Authority to engage in new projects up to a maximum value of £3 million between 2020-2024, and delegating authority to approve the acceptance of new partnering agreements with the Water Company partners under this authority to the Director of Conservation and Planning, in consultation with the Head of Law and in agreement with the Chief Finance Officer.

2)    That the Authority may, subject to compliance with its procurement standing orders, enter into contracts for the delivery of the AMP 7 projects.

Ms Y Witter left the meeting at 12 noon.

The Head of Programme Delivery – Moors for the Future (MFF) introduced the report which detailed a proposal for authority for MFF to accept funding from a variety of sources on behalf of the Authority for climate change mitigation projects up to the value of one million pounds over the next five years.  A video accompanying the report had been sent to Members to view before the meeting.  The proposal followed on from talks regarding fire resilience and flooding issues which recognised the impacts of climate change.  As an example it was noted that Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council had offered £67,000 for work to be done for them on Calderdale Blanket Bog’s ecological condition and its wildfire severity condition.

The recommendation was moved.

In response to Members’ queries the Officer stated that business development was currently done within the MFF Team.  It was clarified that the report was not proposing to set up a separate Authority for this work but requesting authority/approval to be delegated to enable offers of work to be accepted.  The Team were mindful that some work of the Partnership is  outside the National Park boundary, but it is work which is complementary to the work in the National Park.

The motion was seconded, put to the vote and carried.

RESOLVED:

To support the proposed establishment of small projects to tackle climate change through habitat restoration aspirations (capital works) and associated research and communications outcomes.

Specifically:

1)    Authority to engage in new projects up to a maximum value of £1 million between 2020-2025, and delegating authority to approve the acceptance of new contracts with external funders under this authority to the Director of Conservation and Planning, in consultation with the Head of Law and in agreement with the Chief Finance Officer.

2)    That the Authority may, subject to compliance with its procurement standing orders, enter into contracts for the delivery of Climate Change Mitigation projects.

The Director of Commercial Development and Engagement introduced the report and the Corporate Property Officer was present to answer questions.  The report set out the findings of the Micro Scrutiny Panel which had looked at the Authority’s process for disposing of minor properties and made suggestions for revising the toolkit for disposal of assets.

The Chair of the Panel, Cllr Chris Furness, summarised the reasons for the micro scrutiny and how it had progressed.  He recommended the proposals to the Committee.

The report was welcomed but concerns were stated regarding when local Members and stakeholders would be involved in the process.  Officers stated that it was expected that most disposals would be reported to Members via a Committee report.  It was noted that properties were not put on sale before stakeholders had been consulted, however Members felt this needed to be made clearer.

The recommendation subject to Member engagement being clarified in the toolkit was moved and seconded.  The motion was put to the vote and carried.

RESOLVED:

1.    To note the report of the Micro Scrutiny Panel and its recommendations relating to the process for dealing with the disposal of minor properties as set out in Appendix 1 of the report.

2.    To ask the Chief Executive in consultation with the Head of Law, Corporate Property Officer and Chair of the Authority to amend the Property Disposal documentation to reflect the recommendations of the Panel, in accordance with the delegation from Authority to make amendments to the Corporate Asset Management Plan and its appendices.