Joint Manager North Devon Coast National Landscape to report.

The Committee received an update on the AONB Management Plan.

The Head of Place, Property and Regeneration introduced Jenny Carey-Wood from the AONB who gave a presentation as follows:

·         The organisation had been rebranded and were now known as North Devon Coast National Landscape.

·         They covered a large geographical area from the top of North Devon down to the Cornish border with approximately 10,000 inhabitants.

·         The Biosphere Partnership dealt with the marine life and conservation.

·         The purpose of the ND Coast National Landscape was to conserve and enhance natural beauty.

·         Natural Beauty being the Landscape, Geology, Wildlife and Cultural Heritage.

·         The organisation was overseen by a partnership of 26 members from Torridge District Council, North Devon Council, Devon County Council, Natural England, Historic England, Environment Agency, Forestry Commission, Exmoor National Park, North Devon Biosphere, Coastwise North Devon, Devon Wildlife Trust, National Farmers Union, Tarka Country Trust, National Trust, Taw Torridge Estuary Forum, Country Landowners and Business Association, The Countryside Charity (CPRE Devon) and 8 Community Representatives.

·         There was a core team of three staff, one of whom was part time working on the following areas:

Ø  Planning advice to Local Authority planning teams

Ø  Promotion, engagement, connection and volunteering

Ø  Landowner engagement for Nature, Climate, People and Place

Ø  Heritage and Culture

Ø  Project Development/Funding opportunities

Ø  Grant Management; and

Ø  Review of the AONB Management Plan

·         The review of the Management plan was carried out every five years and the current plan covered 2019 – 2024, extended to 2025 was being reviewed

·         Material consideration was given to the Local Plan when considering the Management plan

·         A consultation was currently live and had so far had over 360 responses

·         A draft of the new Management plan would be formally consulted on in May 2025

·         Final sign off by Local Planning Authorities and Natural England to take place July to December 2025.

·         Recent changes included the Protected Landscapes Review 2019 – during which the idea to rebrand came about.

·         Environmental Improvement Plan 2023 Targets, Protected Landscapes Targets and Outcomes Framework and the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, which gave a revised duty of regard – ‘to seek to further the statutory purposes of protected landscapes’.  Clarification from Government was still to be given on how this would be carried out.

·         Core Budget:

Ø  75% Defra and 25% local planning authorities

Ø  £16,770 NDC contribution

Ø  £245,858 Defra, DCC & TDC (& revenue uplift)

·         Additional Funds leveraged:

Ø  £303,549 Farming in Protected Landscapes

Ø  £83,349 Access for All and Capital uplift grants

Ø  £85,258 Finding Nature’s Footprints (National Lottery)

·         £734,774 Total.

·         The total of £6million funding from Government was split between the 34 National Landscape Partnerships across England.

·         Funding had been received to be used in farming and protected landscapes, this was not in relation to food production

·         The current project of ‘Finding Natures Footsteps’ was focussing on Berrynarbor, Combe Martin and Ilfracombe.

In response to questions from the Committee the following replies were given:

·         The organisation were not a statutory consultee in terms of planning authorities but they did offer advice to responsible authorities.

·         The AONB were supportive of Community Land Trust’s working to get the balance right when it came to new development.

·         In terms of social subscribers the AONB did not own or manage any land.  It could be very challenging to set up, people didn’t like going to an area they were unfamiliar with and transport was always a problem.

·         Having met with farmers one of the things they expressed as something they would like to see was more education around food production, to help aid peoples understanding of restrictions to access to land during certain times of the year.

·         Devon County Council were in the process of updating their guidance on renewable energy sources across Devon.