The Members of the Exmoor Consultative Forum
A meeting of the Exmoor Consultative Forum will be held in the Committee Room, Exmoor House, Dulverton, on Wednesday, 15 June 2005 at 6.30 pm
(A buffet will be available prior to the meeting commencing).
The meeting will be open to the press and public subject to the passing of any resolution under s.100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972.
#There will be a public question time at this meeting for members of the general public. The details are set out at the end of the agenda.
(NB. Separate seating will be identified for members of the general public)
Dr Nigel Stone
National Park Officer
A G E N D A
1. Apologies for Absence
2. Minutes
(1) To agree the Minutes of the last meeting held on 5 November 2004 (Item 2(1) (PDF,128KB))
(2) To consider any Matters Arising
3. Items Raised by Forum Members
(1) The Exmoor Society has asked for more information about organised events and rights of way
covering:-
How many, how big, what controls?
Time of year/type of event
Notification procedure to landowners/other users
Monitoring of impact on the National Park’s special qualities
Pressure points and management
Repair costs and overall budget of rights of way
(in response, a paper is being prepared by Paul Hawkins, the Authority’s Recreation Manager, which will follow as soon as possible – Item 3(1) – to follow, an officer will be present to answer members’ questions)
(2) The Exmoor Trust has asked for feedback on the following:-
(i) Update on the Adopted Local Plan/Local Development Framework – John Clements, the Authority’s Principal Planning Officer (Policy and Community) to update the Forum.
(ii) Update on the Local Access Forum – the Local Access Forum’s Annual Report for 2004/05 is enclosed (Item 3(2)(ii) (PDF,183KB) and its Chairman, Jeremy Holtom, and Secretary, Martin Palmer, will be present to elaborate on any points and answer members’ questions.
(iii) Some idea of the remit for the Cambridge University study into the environmental and economic effects of shooting on the moor – a report from David Lloyd, the Authority’s Team Leader (Moorlands and Wildlife) is enclosed (Item 3(2)(iii) (PDF,183KB)). An officer will be present to answer members’ questions.
(3) Keith Ross, Member with Special Knowledge, asks whether the car park at Exmoor House, Dulverton could be used over weekends and public holidays for public car parking, given that the Dulverton public car parks are often full on these days. He says that use of the car park would benefit Dulverton’s economy.
(In addition, the Exmoor Trust and Louise Crossman, Member with Special Knowledge, asked for an update on the Design Guide and this is covered in Item 4 below).
4. Design Guide
John Clements, the Authority’s Principal Planning Officer (Policy and Community) to update the Forum on the preparation of a new Design Guide.
5. National Park Authority Performance Assessment
There will be an interactive workshop on this topic.
6. The Future of the Consultative Forum
Forum members’ views are requested on whether there should be a merger of the Exmoor Consultative Forum with the Exmoor District and Parish Forum (into one Exmoor Consultative Forum). Over the last few years both meetings have had declining attendance levels (particularly the District and Parish Forum), both have similar agendas and other mechanisms are also now in place for consultation, e.g. the parishes are consulted through the local area panels and many of the bodies on the Consultative Forum have direct engagement with the National Park Authority’s staff.
The following comments were received prior to the preparation of this agenda:-
Geoffrey Way (Youth Hostels Association): no objection to the Forum’s meetings being combined with the District and Parish Forum.
The Baroness Mallalieu: a merger of both Forums is, in principle, an excellent idea.
Joyce Stanley (Ramblers’ Association, Devon): on the whole in favour of a merger of the two Forums, provided that the more specialist interests of the Consultative Forum were in no way jeopardised. It would no doubt be in the Authority’s interests as economising on the servicing of the two bodies.
Dunster Parish Council: in agreement with a merger for the Exmoor Consultative Forum and the District and Parish Forum.
7. The Authority’s Achievements in 2004/05 and Plans for 2005/06
Nigel Stone, National Park Officer, to give a presentation.
8. Scheduled Date of Next Meeting – Friday, 4 November 2005 at 10.30 am
9. Other Business of Urgency
#Public Question Time
This facility is for members of the general public, as opposed to Consultative Forum Members. It provides the opportunity for the public to ask questions or make statements on any items on the meeting’s agenda. The timing of public questions during the meeting will be at the Chairman’s discretion and those wishing to participate can speak for up to 2 minutes. If there are a number of people present for a particular item, the Chairman may ask for a nominee to speak on their behalf and a longer time may be permitted. If you wish to ask a public question, please let Martin Palmer, the Member Services Officer know before the meeting commences.
Further information on any of the reports can be obtained by contacting the National Park Authority at the address and telephone numbers at the top of the agenda.
Details of the decisions taken at this meeting will be circulated in the formal Minutes which the Authority will be asked to approve as a correct record at its next meeting. In the meantime, details of the decisions can be obtained from Martin Palmer, The Member Services Officer, at Exmoor House.