Agenda item

The Rights of Way Officer introduced the report and highlighted the importance of working with partnership organisations including the Highways Authorities, the Police and user groups.

The following spoke under the Public Participation at Meetings Scheme:

• Mrs Stoney, local resident
• Mr Chris Woods, Peak District Green Lanes Association, Friends of the Peak District and the Peak & Northern Footpath Society
• Ms Patricia Stubbs, Peak Horsepower

Members congratulated the team on the ‘well put together’ report, particularly the graphs which were easy to understand. 

Members were concerned regarding the outstanding repairs to Hurstclough Lane as mentioned by the speakers and asked that Derbyshire County Council be encouraged to carry out the necessary work.  Cllr Jason Atkin agreed to raise this with the officers at  Derbyshire County Council and ask them to contact the Rights of Way Team regarding carrying out the work.

Derbyshire County Council had had notice served on them to carry out the repairs on Minninglow Lane but details were not available regarding when these repairs would take place. 

Members requested some changes to the Objectives for Green Lanes so that people were ‘connected  with nature for its enjoyment’.

Members agreed the objectives in appendix 3 of the report were good but that there was a need to ensure users are aware of the reasons why they should respect the lanes by increasing their understanding of why these lanes are important and providing a back story to highlight the history of the routes. Officers confirmed that this report is an opportunity to start  to develop this.

Members raised the question asked by speakers regarding introducing more TROs as the Action Plan did not include any other than the current consultation on Wetton Hills.  Officers clarified that there were no targets or plans for TROs but that there were a range of actions that could be taken on routes where problems occurred.  Consideration also needed to be given as to which authority is appropriate to take action as Derbyshire County Council were also able to implement TROs and in some cases  the more appropriate authority.  

Officers reported that the National Trail Riders organisation had not supported voluntary restraint measures proposed by the local groups.

The Chair of the committee asked that a meeting between officers of Derbyshire County Council and the Authority’s Rights of Way Team take place to discuss outstanding repairs.

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

RESOLVED:

That the progress was noted and the action plans at Appendices 4, 6 and 7 of the report were approved, and that a follow-up report be brought to this Committee in March 2019

Cllr Becky Woods left the meeting at 1.23 pm