Minutes of TVLAF. 10 th October 2011 at Newham Grange Farm 3:30 5:30pm

Transcription

1 Minutes of TVLAF 10 th October 2011 at Newham Grange Farm 3:30 5:30pm Members present: Robin Daniels (Chair), Steve Scoffin, Judith Underwood, Deborah Jefferson, Mike Roff, Norman Leslie, David Leyshon. Officers Present: Beryl Bird (DO), Chris Scaife (Hartlepool), Graham Clingan (Stockton on Tees), Stewart Williams (Middlesbrough), Hannah Woodhouse (Hartlepool). Guests: Anne Louise Orange of Groundwork NE, Sue Antrobus Tees Valley Biodiversity Partnership Apologies: Councillor Michael Smith (Stockton on Tees), Neil Mitchell, Nick Elliott, Fiona Campbell, Rob Morrow (Stockton on Tees). 1. Introductions Robin Daniels welcomed everyone to the meeting and asked everyone to introduce themselves. 2. Minutes of AGM held on 7 th March 2011, Darlington These were approved with no amendments. 3. Matters Arising There were no Matters Arising. 4. Landscape Partnership Bid Presented by Anne Louise Orange, of Groundwork NE, the aim of the Landscape Partnership Bid is to improve the river and beck corridors along the Tees; joining up various initiatives including the River Routes project in Stockton and the Boro Becks Project in Middlesbrough. There are a number of different initiatives planned, 5 new circular walks will be created in Stockton on Tees, the Heritage Park development, and access and environmental improvements. The bid to HLF which has to be made by Feb 2012, at present covers 88 square kilometres, and six administrative boundaries from the Tees Estuary to Piecebridge. The bid, 2m over 5 years, aims to attract matched funding and must satisfy 4 criteria historic character, community participation, learning about landscapes and increasing heritage skills. 10 years maintenance can be allocated in the bid.

2 Penny Maughan and Anne Louise are co ordinating the bid and are in the midst of community and local authority consultations in an effort to make sure as many individual projects can be attached to the themes, for example Teesdale Way. DL wondered if the Managed Re alignment at Greatham was part of the project, CS thought the work at Greatham was a separate scheme with EA. DL reminded the meeting about the quick win at Worsall. The ford had been flooded and made impassable by the Tees Barrage, MR confirmed that the ford had been in use, during low water conditions, until the Tees barrage was constructed about 20 years ago, DL thought the requirement was for a bridge to allow pedestrians, cyclists and horse drawn vehicles access. SS injected a note of caution, and pointed out that if the access was a statutory requirement, than HLF funding will not accommodate it, a bridge would not be as of right, but a ford would be. ALO thought that the project would need to see a balance between the four areas and agreed to look at it. SS noted that the Heart of Teesdale partnership were also making a bid and it was important to maintain contact with this. 5. Green Infrastructure Strategy Graham Clingan, presented the Final Draft Strategy, which seeks to make the most of the high quality green infrastructure we already have (in Stockton on Tees) and presents a vision for how we might develop green infrastructure networks in the future, which is being considered by Stockton on Tees Cabinet. The Action Plan is underway, led by the Steering Group which includes the Environment Agency, INCA, Groundwork, Natural England, the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust and the Forestry Commission. (The request for a bridge at Worsall would be considered by this group). Graham invited comments from the LAF and other parties on the strategic partnership and activities over the next few months. 6. North Tees Natural Network Graham Clingan and Chris Scaife presented the work undertaken so far by the North Tees Natural Network which includes the RSPB, EA, TVWT, INCA, Groundwork, SBC, HBC, and NE. Concentrating on the industrialised area of Hartlepool and Billingham with coastal and countryside access highlighted, the map outlined proposed new access routes for all users. The aim is not just to improve access but to improve biodiversity, connectivity, environmental education and branding. The mapping work undertaken so far will feed into the Landscape Partnership and Groundwork s HLF bids. These proposals for both long and short term access could cost 2m.

3 DL thought that the work undertaken by the Ramblers for Coastal Access included a route which avoided the Tees Road and the Transporter Bridge. This information had been submitted to NE and would be available from them. 7. Regional Roundup SS covered the response to Richard Benyon s letter, the proposed two national Conferences, Huddle, the Annual Report and the last Regional meeting. DL thought that until the Regulations & Guidance were altered then the LAF is not bound to accept these changes. Some discussion took place about variable and non existent broadband connection affecting the Huddle uptake. 8. Chairs Report The Chair outlined developments at the last regional meeting in June, the TVLAF had raised the issue of Teesdale way, TVLAF ROW Officers and Durham were keen to work on the project to raise its profile, and it now appears in the Landscape Partnership bid. RD also wished to thank Councillor and Stockton on Tees Borough Council Leader Bob Cook for his hard work and enthusiastic commitment to the TVLAF over the years since its inception. His post had now been taken by Councillor Michael Smith. This of course meant that the TVLAF needed a Vice Chair, which would be resolved at the AGM in March Friends Group Proposals As had been highlighted in a consultation sent out to the members in September, in order to assist the Appointing Authorities with their plans for ROWIP, we could assist them access funding. A separate, properly constituted Friends Group could make a difference to cross boundary schemes, but RD stressed that the Friends Group would not be about competing with similar bodies. RD asked the meeting if the members were prepared to support it in principle it would be properly constituted at the AGM. DL believed we should give it a whirl, but raised concerns about the personnel we needed an able fundraiser. RD thought that if properly constituted the Friends Group did not need to be constrained by LAF membership, it could be extended and be more flexible. ALO described present partnership working and CS thought this meant matched funding could be undertaken. GC thought that in the main, members would be interested in their own area, and the whole Tees Valley approach would need to be managed. RD said that it was not about competition, it was about nesting with other partnerships; the constitution and specific ideas would be taken forward to the AGM. 10. Access Working Group Report

4 JU highlighted the areas discussed over the previous 6 months which included several changes in personnel, letters to the Highways Agency, our Appointing Authority CE s and Network Rail. Fiona Campbell, who has expressed an interest in joining the TVLAF, is already offering her services in terms of Accessibility and Impact Assessments. Cross boundary agreements are also on their agenda, setting up agreements with ROW Officers. The present arrangements for Local Authority cross boundary working extend only to maintenance. It did not extend to issues over conflict between Parish Councils about continuation of footpaths. It was agreed that the Access Working Group should look at the issues. 11. Marketing Working Group Report The present Marketing Working Group has not met, since the AGM. However, the web site continues to be developed and is now home to Regional information. A number of members have been lost and DJ invited present members to join. DJ and BB have developed the Friends Group and will continue to develop plans and funding opportunities, for the AGM. ALO described Virtual Access Microsoft TAG which is free software incorporated into access posts, used by mobile phones, which can also be incorporated into leaflets. SW and JM described various Apps now available. 12. ROW Officers Reports 12.1 D/ton No Report 12.2 Hartlepool CS described a number of initiatives the creation of a new permissive path alongside the Tees Road, surfacing works on a number of paths, continued furniture upgrading, guided walk events managed by Hannah Woodhouse and the consultation underway for the proposed woodland at Golden Flatts. The Coastal Access pilot between Hartlepool and Sunderland is well underway. The path has been walked and anomalies noted. Meetings are now being planned between landowners and NE. The Secretary of State will ratify in the spring if all goes well. Limestone Landscapes have incorporated Leg It Across The Landscape, which will create new access and upgrade and improve existing access in Hartlepool, S Tyneside and Durham Middlesbrough

5 Walk Middlesbrough, described by SW is a 5 year project which includes a walking strategy, circular paths and path improvement. SW has completed Middlesbrough s Definitive Map & Statement which is viewable at Vancouver House. Middlesbrough s ROWIP is also scheduled for updating this year Stockton on Tees RM had submitted a lengthy report which had been circulated. GC wished to add that any new proposed developments, addressing gaps for example, could be incorporated into the Action Plan of the Green Infrastructure Strategy. GC agreed to forward details to the Access WG. 13. Development Officer Report BB described the revised national annual report, the events attended during the year, the work undertaken to set up the Friends Group, and described present Regional working. 14. AOB Sue Antrobus of the Tees Valley Biodiversity Partnership described their plans, which embrace a wide set of partners, health, business and LAFs. As a walker and a cyclist she had had an interesting day! Jim Milner from Natural England said he felt encouraged by the work undertaken by the TVLAF, and welcomed the idea of a proactive Friends Group. Anne Louise Orange said that she was keen to come back and work with the TVLAF to develop their bids. 15. Next meeting The AGM will be held on 5th March 2012 in Hartlepool. RD thanked everyone for a very interesting and informative meting, with thanks to the Newham Grange for their kind hospitality. Meeting closed at 5:35

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