Cllr Virginia Priestley attended the meeting in her capacity as Vice Chair of Planning Committee and as Chair of the Moors for the Future Partnership Group.

Item 6

Professor Janet Haddock-Fraser declared an interest in this item as the Deputy Chair of the Moors for the Future Partnership Group.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on the 21^st July were approved as a correct record.

There was no urgent business.

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.

No members of the public had given notice to make representations at the meeting.

The report was introduced by Simon Geikie, the Senior Strategy and Performance Officer. The report aimed to inform Members about the Authority’s progress in responding to climate change since January 2023 and sought approval to join the UN ‘Race to Zero’ initiative.

Members queried how the sustainable transport goals would be met, to which officers replied that the Sustainable Transport Officer role is currently being advertised which would aim to improve sustainable transport links and public engagement with these services.

Members highlighted the importance of making sure that this was not just another pledge and that actions were taken to make sure pledges were acted on, to which officers confirmed that progress on this pledge would be reported at Authority meetings. The Senior Strategy and Performance Officer added that  joining the ‘Race to Zero’ initiative raised the profile of the role of protected landscapes  in tackling climate change. In response to a question, he said that the collaboration with the University of Sheffield was looking at how people perceive landscape change and how to improve communicating the scale of landscape change that will occur as a result of climate change.

Members questioned if other National Parks that had not already pledged to join the ‘Race to Zero’ initiative were looking to do so, and if Members should advocate for the constituent authorities to be signing up to the pledge as well. Officers stated that the reason that not all National Parks were already signed up was not due to any reluctance but that they were just  at different points in the management planning cycle.  The number of constituent authorities signed up was growing with five known to have signed up and more anticipated.  Any advocacy Members could undertake to support this would be most welcome

Members highlighted the importance of working collaboratively with constituent authorities and partners towards tackling climate change. Officers confirmed that the Authority will continue to raise the profile of action on climate change and the “Race to Zero” initiative to constituent authorities through the management plan process.

Members queried where the very specific figures in Objective 2 of the second appendix came from and officers stated that these were calculations that Moors for the Future made around avoided carbon loss based on guidance given by DEFRA.

The recommendations, as set out in the report, were moved and seconded, put to the vote and carried.

RESOLVED

1.      To note progress in delivering to the National Park Management Plan and Authority Plan climate change aim and targets.

2.      To approve the Authority joins the UK National Parks in the United Nations ‘Race to Zero’ initiative to halve global greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

The report was introduced by Chris Dean, head of the Moors for the Future Partnership (MFFP). The report brought before Members a new reporting process for the business of the Moors for the Future Partnership in the form of a Business Strategy to 2030 and an annual Business Plan.

The Chair invited Cllr Priestley, as Chair of the MFFP, to speak on the report.  Cllr Priestley reported that although she was new to the MFFP, she was impressed with how the Team worked and was aware of funding issues.  She had attended a Strategic Management Board Meeting where the Business Strategy had been well received and she recommended it to the Authority.

Members asked if there were ways that the Peak District National Park Foundation could work with Moors for the Future to provide further funding for the partnership. Officers confirmed that meetings were already set up to discuss  this.

Members were concerned about how the MFFP communicates with moorland owners who might wish to continue to use moorland burning as a management technique.  Officers confirmed that all the land that the MFFP work over  is covered by habitat regulations, meaning that consent is required from Natural England to carry out management activities. Using management burning to manage vegetation over deep peat is banned without proper licensing and was therefore not a major issue. Officers stated that MFFP always try to cultivate positive relations with landowners and work in partnership.  Landowner permission is required for all the work the partnership engages with.

Members highlighted that the report raised some underlying issues surrounding the funding of long-term contracts for MFFP employees and asked what steps were being taken to resolve these. Officers replied that this was an issue that they had not quite solved but that things were hopeful with the new Environmental Land Management Scheme proposals being more long-term. Officers also confirmed that they were working on increasing financial reserves to fund a year’s worth of salaries which would bring more confidence and flexibility to their operations.

Members asked how MFFP planned to educate communities about the work that they do. The Head of Moors for the Future  said that this was an area that he would like to do more work in but it was restricted by available funding.  The Bogtastic Van is currently being funded through Utility Company funds and much use is being made of social campaigns to reduce the use of disposable barbeques in moorland areas.of disposable barbecues in moorland areas.

It was noted that the figure in the second bullet point of paragraph 7.2 of the report referred to 560K tonnes but the Business Plan referred to 560 tonnes, it was assumed this was an error and both should state 560K tonnes.  The Officer apologised for the error and confirmed that the documents would be checked and amended before being finalised.

The recommendations, as set out in the report, were moved and seconded, put to the vote and carried.

RESOLVED

1.     To approve a new  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38/23

Draft motion:

That the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of agenda item No 8 to avoid the disclosure of Exempt Information under S100 (A) (4) Local Government Act 1972, Schedule 12 A, paragraph 3 ‘information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)’.

RESOLVED:

That the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of agenda item No 12 to avoid the disclosure of Exempt Information under S100 (A) (4) Local Government Act 1972, Schedule 12 A, paragraph 3 ‘information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)’.

The exempt minutes of the previous meeting held on the 21^st July were approved as a correct record subject to the following amendment:

Cllr Becki Woods had left the meeting early, which was noted in the Part A minutes, therefore she was not present when the meeting moved into Part B so should be removed from the attendance list.