PAPER D

Purpose: for Decision

REPORT TO THE EXECUTIVE

Date : 28 JANUARY 2004

Title : ISLE OF WIGHT AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY MANAGEMENT PLAN

REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING POLICY

IMPLEMENTATION DATE : 9 February 2004

SUMMARY/PURPOSE

1. The Council’s Executive is being asked to agree to approve the Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Management Plan be adopted in accordance with statute.

BACKGROUND

2. The Isle of Wight AONB is part of a national family of protected landscapes within England and Wales treasured for their natural beauty, and the quality of life this affords to their communities. There are forty-one AONBs in England and Wales representing its highest quality and often most visited landscapes.

3. The National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 included the provision of the statutory mechanism for the designation of AONBs. It also provided planning protection of AONBs and gave local authorities the power to take action to conserve them. However, no statutory duties were placed on local authorities or other bodies with regard to the designation.

4. The Isle of Wight AONB was designated in 1963 and covers approximately half of the land area of the Island (189Km²).

5. Heritage Coasts are a non-statutory landscape definition, unlike the formally designated National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) and are defined by agreement between the relevant maritime local authorities and the Countryside Agency.  Most are part of a National Park or AONB. Tennyson and Hamstead Heritage Coasts were defined in 1974.

6. Following the establishment in 1992 of an AONB Project and Joint Advisory Committee (funded in partnership by the Countryside Commission, The the then Isle of Wight County Council and South Wight Borough Councils), the first Isle of Wight AONB Management Plan was published in 1994. This non statutory Plan also incorporated strategic management objectives for the two areas of Heritage Coast.

7. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 brought in new measures for the protection of AONBs in line with those provided to National Parks by the Environment Act 1995. The Act consolidates earlier legislation concerning AONBs, reaffirms the purposes of the designation and confirms the powers of local authorities to take appropriate action to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of AONBs. In addition the Act:

· Places a duty on all public bodies and statutory undertakers to ‘have regard to the purpose of conserving and enhancing the natural beauty of the AONB, when exercising or performing their functions in relation to, or so as to affect, an AONB’.

· Establishes the mechanism for creating AONB conservation boards

· Creates a statutory responsibility for local authorities and conservation boards to produce and regularly review Management Plans setting out their policies for the AONB and for carrying out their functions in relation to it.

8. In planning policy terms AONBs and National Parks are now both of equal importance, reflected by the recent changes made to Planning Policy Guidance 7: The Countryside – Environmental Quality and Economic and Social Development.

9. In April 2002 the Isle of Wight Council and the Countryside Agency signed a memorandum of agreement to jointly fund an Isle of Wight AONB Partnership. This agreement stands until 2008 and is reviewed in 2005. The agreement delegates the preparation of the Isle of Wight AONB Management Plan to the Partnership on behalf of the Isle of Wight Council. Consisting of representatives from organisations, and individuals with a direct interest in the AONB, the Partnership has over ninety members. The staff of the Partnership make up the AONB Unit. The Unit is hosted by the Isle of Wight Council and is housed within the Planning Services division of the Environment Directorate.

10. The Plan before the Executive for consideration represents the culmination of eighteen months work by the AONB Partnership.

STRATEGIC CONTEXT

11. Island Futures – the Isle of Wight Community Strategy has a vision for ‘A happy, prosperous and contented Island where each member of the community enjoys the highest quality of life and where we work together to ensure that the Island’s natural beauty and cultural heritage are passed undiminished to future generations.’ The main themes of the Community Strategy are: 1) Safer Island, 2) Access, 3) Promoting Health & Equality, 4) Jobs and the Local Economy, 5) Learning & Skills, 6) Developing Tourism & Leisure, 7) Quality Environment. The AONB Management Plan supports this vision and is listed within theme 7.

12. The AONB Management Plan supports the Council’s Strategic Objectives as set out in the Corporate Plan 2002-2005, in particular:

Improving the quality of life for all

Protecting the Island’s physical environment

13. The Service Plan of Planning Services accords with the Corporate Plan and lists the production and adoption of the AONB Management Plan as a key task.

14. The AONB Management Plan is in accordance with the Isle of Wight Unitary Development Plan and will in particular provide further information with the following:

Key Strategic Policy

S10 Development to Conserve or Enhance Designated Areas

Key Topic Policies

C2 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

C4 Heritage Coast

15. The AONB Management Plan is also integral to the success of a Regional Joint Statement of Intent for Protected Landscapes in the South East between SEEDA, SEERA, GOSE, DEFRA, the Countryside Agency, the Isle of Wight AONB Partnership and our colleagues in the other AONBs in the region.

CONSULTATION

16. The production of the AONB Management Plan was launched to AONB Partnership members and members of the public at a full day Open Forum event held in September 2002. This included a visioning workshop where delegates expressed their hopes and fears for the AONB.

17. The Landscape Reflections project undertaken by the AONB Unit in 2002 provided useful information from three targeted communities within the AONB. Using varying forms of arts media, local groups and school children were asked to express their personal response to the local landscape. A better understanding of the meaning and importance of the AONB to local people whilst also bringing forward concerns and comments on problems in the area was gained through this project.

18. The drafting process of the AONB Management Plan was steered by a Management Plan Work Group and overseen by the AONB Steering Committee.

19. In April 2003 draft policies were presented to AONB Partnership Advisory Group members at a Policy Workshop. Valuable feedback was obtained and led to a refinement to suggested policies.

20. A consultation draft of the Plan was published in June 2003 with the consultation period ending on 31 July 2003. Two hundred and thirty five copies of the Plan were distributed to all Partnership members; all Isle of Wight Council elected members; all Parish and Town Councils and Forums; and all Library Reference Sections. Copies were also available to be viewed at Customer Services in County Hall, Reception at the Planning Services offices at Seaclose, and to be viewed and downloaded from the AONB website. The consultation was advertised in the Isle of Wight County Press and through the AONB Partnership

Finest Landscapes newsletter, and at the Isle of Wight Council’s exhibition at the Agricultural Show.

21. During the consultation period meetings were held with twenty two key Partnership members. At these, feedback on the draft was obtained and discussions took place on joint working and actions to be included in the Action Plan. In addition to these meetings thirty one consultation responses were sent to the AONB Unit.

22. In accordance with the procedure given in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 copies of the redrafted plan were sent in November to English Nature and the Countryside Agency for their formal observations.

23. A copy of the final published AONB Management Plan will need to be sent to the Secretary of State at DEFRA by the 31 March 2004 in order for the Isle of Wight Council to fulfil the statutory requirement of the Countryside and Rights of way Act 2000. It is intended to liaise with consultants to provide the final layout and design for this publication.

FINANCIAL/BUDGET IMPLICATIONS

24. Funding for the production of the AONB Management Plan is provided through the core funding of the AONB Partnership. Implementation of many of the actions listed in the Action Plan will be also fulfilled by the core budget of the AONB Partnership. For those actions where resources are yet to be identified, the AONB Unit will coordinate bids to external funding sources along with those key partners listed.

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

25. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 Part IV S89 sets out the statutory regime in relation to AONB’s, including the duty basis for the requirement on local authorities to produce, publish and review an AONB Management Plan for their area.

OPTIONS

26. a) To adopt the Isle of Wight AONB Management Plan

b) To amend the Isle of Wight AONB Management Plan before its adoption

EVALUATION/RISK MANAGEMENT

27. Unforeseen changes to legislation, opportunities for joint working and difficulties with the implementation of the Action Plan section of the AONB Management may lead to the need to revise and amend approaches taken to the delivery of its policy objectives. Such changes and progress on the delivery of the Action Plan will be reported on annually.

28. The main risk associated with a delay in adoption of the Management Plan by the Isle of Wight Council is non compliance with a statutory obligation. Should this occur a formal letter from the Local Authority setting out reasons for not meeting the statutory deadline must be sent to the Secretary of State at DEFRA. This may have implications on the ability to draw down Government funding for AONB Management including the ability to bid for funds to implement project work on the ground. Equally the adoption and publication of an AONB Management Plan will help to fulfil the aims and objectives of the relevant policies in the Community Strategy and the Corporate Plan.

29. The Isle of Wight AONB Management Plan will be an important factor in the forthcoming Local Development Framework (LDF) due to replace the Unitary Development Plan. Its adoption by the Isle of Wight Council will enable the AONB partnership to undertake actions in the Action Plan that will add value to the LDF process.

30. The statutory requirement to review the Plan within five years of its publication provides us with the opportunity to ensure it remains relevant in light of changed legislation.

RECOMMENDATIONS

31. Option a.

BACKGROUND PAPERS

32. Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan 2004-2009

33. Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty – A guide for AONB Partnership members.

Countryside Agency CA24 2001

34. Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plans – A guide

Countryside Agency CA23 2001

35. Protected Landscapes in the South East Joint Statement of Intent 2002

36. Draft AONB Management Plan consultation report.

37. Formal observations provided by the Countryside Agency and English Nature

Contact Point : John Brownscombe 823855. [email protected]

A ASHCROFT Head of Planning Services

T BUTCHERS Portfolio for Sustainable Development, Environment and Planning Policy