Agenda item

PDNPA TRANSPORT SYMPOSIUM

Took place on the 1^st February 2023. It was a smaller and more high-level strategic event than originally envisaged, which looked at how the key local authorities and transport bodies could work together. It was hoped that more specific actions and consultations may come back to the Forum at some point. 

ENVIRONMENT LAND MANAGEMENT SCHEMES (ELMS) UPDATE

Charlotte Gilbert gave an update to Members.

The Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) is being phased out and will finish in 2027. The Government has a manifesto commitment to maintain the farming budget so all reductions in the current BPS will be reinvested in farming. Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) aims to be more streamline, efficient and fairer. SFI is available to all farmers currently in receipt of BPS; it offers nine standards with two levels (Introductory and Intermediate) for each standard. The Government intends to implement similar improvements across Countryside Stewardship (CS) next year. CS provides financial incentives for farmers, foresters and land managers with grants for multi-year management agreements. On January 26^th the Government published an update to the Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS) with the aim of bringing clarity and certainty for business planning. The enhanced CS higher tier schemes will be aimed at places needing complex management such as creating or restoring habitats and improving woodlands; the mid-tier and wildlife offers are aimed at protecting and enhancing the natural environment through multi-year management grants to improve wildlife, water quality, air quality and natural flood management. Landscape Recovery Scheme supports ambitious large -scale nature recovery projects, focusing on net zero, protected sites and habitat creation. Whether this delivers on all the desired outcomes will depend on the uptake by farmers. So far there is a very mixed view from farmers. Some farmers will be put off before they start and will abandon the system and increase livestock numbers which will be the opposite of what the Government intends. There is little in the detail to increase access but this is the base layer and more options may come as the higher tiers are rolled out.

Ben Seal reported that since the Agriculture Act received royal assent, British Canoeing, the British Mountaineering Council, Ramblers, British Horse Society and Open Spaces Society have been trying to influence the development of the Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS) to ensure that the access element is as strong as it can be and rewards farmers for making improvements to access, but to date no assurance has been received that the ELMS will deliver on access.

Ben informed the LAF that he had met Ministers back in January 2021 calling for a chance to do a proper consultation with stakeholders, and that a year later that was finally opened up and 2 weeks ago a stakeholder forum was held.  DEFRA is looking at exploring what it can pay landowners for permissive access (not permanent access), but the emphasis still seems to be on farm/educational visits. Ben was not expecting a huge change, but would continue to lobby Ministers.

LAF members asked where the public could find out where the permissive access will be and when it would be taken away?  Ben reported that currently there wasn’t a place where they could find this information. Sue Smith reminded the meeting that information on new permissive rights of way developed as a result of Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) funding in the Peak District National Park can be found on the PDNPA website. The meeting agreed that this was a good model.

Louise asked if it would be useful for the LAF to make a representation to the Minister to encourage funding of permanent access and underline the wider issues associated with permissive access.

Agreed that Louise Hawson and Mike Rhodes would draft a letter to the Minister on behalf of the LAF.

ACCESS TO WATER

Ben reported that following the last LAF meeting he had met with the Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment and Access Colleagues and that there would be further round table discussions to follow.

CYCLE ACCESS TO THE PEAK DISTRICT

Following the presentation at the last Forum by Simon Geller from Sustrans,  it was reported that there had been some correspondence relating to one of the routes that was talked about from Hathersage ?? to Grindleford Café/Railway Station, and that there were some ongoing discussions taking place, including with the local residents association, who will be a key partner in making this work

NATIONAL PARK MANAGEMENT PLAN

Cllr McCloy confirmed that the National Park Management Plan was ratified at the Authority Meeting on the 2^nd December 2022.

CAR PARKING CHARGES

Members were informed that the proposal to increase the current car parking charges and the introduction of new ticket machines at other Authority car parks was agreed by the Authority Members at the Authority Meeting on 3^rd February 2023.