Item 5

Cllr McCloy declared a personal interest as he was Chair of National Parks England.

Item 7

Cllr Farrell declared a personal interest as she was a member of the Hope Valley Climate Action Transport and Travel Group

The minutes of the previous meeting held on the 3^rd December 2021were agreed 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 to the committee

The report which informed Members about National Parks England’s Delivery Plan for National Parks, what it meant for the Peak District National Park and how it fits with the Authority’s National Park Management Plan, was introduced by the Head of Engagement.

The Head of Engagement confirmed that with regards to achievability within current resources, the paper outlined the focus for work and the sense of direction. A more detailed plan for the recreation hubs programme was being worked on and would be brought to the committee the following year with an update of the NPE National Parks for everyone delivery.  Grants available via the Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme and money raised via the Peak District National Park Foundation could be aimed towards this work.

The effectiveness of the plan in producing more environmentally considerate behaviour from visitors would be evaluated using a number of measures including the Nature Connection Index produced by the University of Derby and by service user surveys.  Members expressed a wish to see the results of this work at a future committee.

Officers also described a further engagement initiative- Ambassador Schools and Centres.  The Ambassador Schools programme included work with schools both inside and outside the National Park, and Rangers were being particularly being encouraged to work with local schools.  The Ambassador Centres programme, was is a structured way to work with outdoor centres in the National Park for them to understand and embed National Park messages into their work with local schools and young people for our urban neighbours.

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

RESOLVED:

To note how the Authority is currently taking forward National Parks England’s Delivery Plan for National Parks for Everyone in the Peak District National Park and how it is informing the Authority’s future National Park Management Plan and Corporate Strategy.

The report, which informed Members about the Access Unlimited Coalition and the Generation Green project, was introduced by the Generation Green Project Manager.

Members congratulated the Project Manger on the success of the Generation Green project and expressed regret that it was due to end, as the goal of getting young people interested in nature was felt to be of vital importance.  The targeted, initiative led approach, was felt to have been particularly successful.

The recommendation as set out in the report was moved and seconded.

Officers confirmed that the YHA were leading on pursuing different funding models for continuing the work of the projects, for example via the Heritage Lottery Fund, and DEFRA, and that this could involve looking at private sector funding.  An application has been submitted to continue the Access Unlimited programme to June 2022, and funding bids were being written to try to extend work beyond June 2022, and to retain experienced staff.  Appropriate permissions will be sought with the development of such bids and grant extensions as and when required in line with Standing Orders.

The motion was put to the vote and carried.

RESOLVED

To note the paper and support the immediate and longer term actions set out in Section 8 of the report.

The report which informed Members about proposals for a Sustainable Transport Project for the National Park, and sought approval for the development of the report into a formal proposal and a bidding document for funding, was introduced by the Transport Policy Planner.

The recommendations as set out in the report were moved.

Officers confirmed that in 2022 the intention was for the Hope Valley Explorer bus service to be an hourly service, with two vehicles, operating from Easter weekend to the beginning of September.  Whilst the service would call at Bamford and Hope stations, it was unlikely that it would be able to wait for connecting trains due to the disruption this would potentially cause to the bus timetable.  It was also confirmed that the “Explorer” and demand response models could be developed further to new routes.

Members questioned whether the cost of providing the Explorer service would be better invested in subsidising fares out of Sheffield into the National Park, rather than in providing an internal bus service which still left families with the expense of travelling into the Park.  Officers advised that the amount of money which the Authority had available to subsidise services was very small. The Hope Valley Explorer starts at Chesterfield at the beginning of the day and connects with other services at Baslow, however the Authority was prohibited from competing with commercial services, which it would be doing if it ran buses out of Sheffield.

Members further discussed the expense for a family of using public transport to visit the National Park rather than their private car, and what measures could be taken to encourage this.  A congestion charge was suggested, the funds raised by this potentially being reinvested in public transport. Officers advised that this was not a measure that was being considered, in part because of the impact that such a scheme could have on people with low incomes.

“Park and ride” schemes had been considered, but direct provision of them was expensive. This model was particularly the focus of the Peak District Connect and Moorlands Connect services, and potentially in the future could also operate from the Peak Resort Site.

A job description had not yet been finalised for the Project Officer role outlined in the report as it would be necessary to ensure funding was in place before the role was established.

Members discussed the need for an integrated transport strategy across the local area in order to counter the environmental cost of car use and coordinate the work of the many partners involved, however resources continued to be an issue.  It was felt that further research would be necessary to ensure the success of any such strategy and that a symposium event should be held for all partners involved in public transport in the local area.

A amendment was proposed to add “including a project officer” to the end of the first recommendation.

The motion for the recommendation as amended was seconded put to the vote and carried.

RESOLVED  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7/22

The report, which sought approval for acceptance of external funding for a four year collaborative woodland creation project with the Woodland Trust, was introduced by the Natural Environment and Rural Economy Team Manager.

The recommendations as set out in the report were moved and seconded.

Officers confirmed that based on previous experience they were confident that the scheme would be taken up by landowners and that any financial risk of a lag of cash flow in claiming grant money back from the Woodland Trust had been minimised via an agreed process.

The motion was put to the vote and carried.

Cllrs Farrell and Tapping and Ms Witter left the meeting for a short period, before returning and did not vote on this matter.

RESOLVED

1.    To support the acceptance of funds from the Woodland Trust (WT) to deliver a project to create approximately 105 hectares of native woodland, these being:

·         Funding from the WT of up to £189,000 staffing costs over 4 financial years (2021/22 to 2024/25) on a full cost recovery basis;

·         To finance the capital cost of individual agreements up to a maximum total of £913,500 (average cost per scheme, based on existing project, of around £8,700).

2.    That the collaboration agreement with the Woodland Trust will be finalised by the Head of Landscape in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer and the Head of Law

3.    That the Authority may, subject to compliance with its procurement standing orders, enter into contracts for the delivery of the project.

Draft motion:

That the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of agenda item No 10 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 10 to avoid the disclosure of Exempt Information under S100 (A) (4) Local Government Act 1972, Schedule 12A,  paragraph 3 ‘information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information).