Issue - meetings

Reason:  To update members on the work of the Blackdown Hills AONB Partnership and agree in principle to the continuation of core funding.

The Locality Team Manager introduced the report which provided an update on the activities and projects carried out by the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership.  He explained that members were being asked to agree in principle to continue the SSDC contribution to the core funding and that a further report would be submitted in March seeking adoption of the AONB Management Plan and to formally endorse SSDC’s funding contribution.

He welcomed Tim Youngs, AONB Manager to the meeting.  With the aid of a powerpoint presentation, the AONB Manager informed members about the following:

·         Community Nature Projects with local communities

·         Nature and Wellbeing Project -  Memory Café sessions in Chard

·         Guided sessions at Folly Farm for members of the Watch Project

·         Naturally Healthy Month in May

·         Revised version of the Landscape Character Assessment which covers all of the Blackdown Hills would be published at the end of 2018/19

·         Work in 2019/20 would include ash dieback mitigation and public engagement via Trees Outside Woods, extending and expanding volunteering role plus nature in and wellbeing work and engaging with primary schools at Combe St Nicholas and Buckland St Mary.

Cllr. Martin Wale, the appointed representative on the Partnership Management Group commented that the AONB delivered a fantastic amount of work with the funding received.

The AONB Manager responded to members’ questions and comments on points of detail.

Members thanked the AONB Manager for the work undertaken by the Partnership and unanimously approved the recommendations of the report.

Reason:  To update members on the work of the Blackdown Hills AONB Partnership and agree in principle to the continuation of core funding.