Agenda item

Sue Fletcher, Head of Landscape and Engagement introduced the report the purpose of which is to inform Members about the Authority’s progress in responding to the Welcoming Place aim since April 2024 and what this means for the future.

A presentation was given to Members from the following Officers:-

·         Lorna Fisher – Engagement Team Manager

·         Sue Smith – Access & Rights of Way Officer

Becki Woods left the meeting at 12:16pm

Questions and comments from Members:-

·         It was mentioned that the Peak District Proud campaign, which is being reviewed, has not been a resounding success and other ways of promoting this work need to be explored.

·         How can the ambition to make the Peak District National Park a more welcoming place be measured?

·         1.2 million people visited Mam Tor in the last year.  The Ranger Service are taking time to reflect about how to engage and provide a service and create and add value for visitors.

·         Thanks were given to Sue Smith for all her work and for improving access for people.

·         Thanks were given to the Engagement Team and Staff and Members recognise there is a big gap in the organisation after the re-structure.  There is great admiration for the Engagement Team for achieving such positive outcomes with limited staff and this will be harder to achieve with a depleted workforce.

·         Need to look at how ranger volunteers can be utilised to cover some of the roles although it is not realistic to rely on just the rangers and need to look at other media and communication channels to promote the messages. Hopefully the youthful voice initiative will reach a different audience demographic.

·         Trails were discussed and whether there were any more plans to increase the number of trails in the future.  The Active Travel Plan will come to Members in the near future and staff have been working in partnership with major land owners, Local Access Forum and Highways Authorities in looking at developing key access routes.

·         North Lees was discussed and funding has been agreed to keep a wheelchair on site and the possibility of a tramper vehicle.  A route has been identified which runs across from Manchester to Sheffield which will link in with North Lees.

·         The feedback from the Ambassador Schools has been very positive and partnership working is going to be very important in the future.

·         There was a request for the Communications Plan to be resurrected and suggestions that social media should be used in a more imaginative way.  The Communications strategy must use close targeting as not everyone needs to be targeted in the same way and therefore may have to look to other people delivering the communications messages.

·         There was mention of how we engage with other groups e.g. the Kinder Trespass anniversary, right to roam and right to swim groups, all of which are very active.  

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

RESOLVED:

1)    To note progress in delivering to the Peak District National Park Management Plan 2023-28 and Authority Plan Welcoming Place aim and targets.