Agenda item

a)    Martin Bennett:  There had been a year long process of setting up a consultation plan for Derbyshire’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy.  Martin had attended an engagement event at Shipley Country Park near Heanor.

b)    Charlotte Gilbert:  Update on the Trails Management Plan:  An update on the works that have been completed has been circulated.  In addition to the work that is detailed in the Action Plan, the Trails Team has been responding to the structure survey work, with work on tunnels and bridges completed in line with the prioritisation for the 6-yearly inspections.  A regular inspection regime is in place.  Vegetation clearance is now part of the annual maintenance plan, and annual risk assessments are completed.  Work to increase capacity at some car parks, and charging being introduced to further carp parks, is taking place  in line with the Trails Management Plan.  Charlotte asked if a link to the Trails Plan and NPMP could be circulated.

c)    Charlotte Gilbert:  National Park Management Plan (NPMP)

LAF members had asked for an update on the NPMP which is the overarching plan for the Peak District National Park. The NPMP has now been updated for 2023-2028, and the National Park Authority works with partners and groups to deliver its aims. 

·         The Partnership group oversees and reviews delivery and is made up of senior representatives from partner organisations such as Local Authorities and large landowners who have significant statutory duties.  This group meets once a year.

·         The Delivery Group is made up of representatives from partner organisations to make sure the NPMP is being delivered.  This group meets 4 times a year.

·         The Stakeholder forum is open to all stakeholder and partner organisations with an interest or wider role in NPMP delivery.  The Forum meets once a year.  The LAF is part of the this wider stakeholder group.  The forum gives partners an opportunity to influence the NPMP and vision with direct officer contact.  It is a large group made up of around 80 partners.  Stakeholders go to the wider group on specific issues.  The LAF has been identified as a relevant group to contribute on only one area, which is to encourage and enable a strategic approach to actively manage prevention and mitigation of uncontrolled fires on moorland.  There are other groups who have been asked to input on this issue.There is no fixed date for the first forum. 

The first annual monitoring report is in the final stages of production, which is due to be published in July.  Charlotte feels that the LAF only being asked to have input on fire management is a missed opportunity. She suggested that once the annual report is published, the LAF should ask for someone from the PDNPA to be present at a future  LAF meeting, and that the LAF’s scope and vision is included in other areas of the NPMP.

Louise agreed that LAF should be consulted on the NPMP.  Mike felt this had been an omission not to include LAF as part of the NPMP process.  Martin mentioned that the Council for National Parks had produced a health check report on nature recovery, which was worth the group looking at in any input that is made to the NPMP.

Action:  MJR to circulate links for the National Park Management Plan and Trails Management Plan to LAF members, and to ask that someone from the PDNPA speaks at a future LAF meeting and to consider wider feedback from the LAF in addition to moorland fire management.