Issue - items at meetings - Downland Estate Update

Report of the Strategic Director, Place (copy attached).

That the Environment & Sustainability Committee agrees to:

1.         Endorse the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) set out in Annex 1;

2.         Encourage the Strategic Director Place to explore funding opportunities to support economic diversification within the Downland area including measures to boost eco tourism and promote access by the city’s local communities to the countryside;

3.         Establish a City Downland Estate Advisory Board with the terms of reference to be negotiated by the Strategic Director of Place and brought back to be ratified by the Environment & Sustainability Committee.

25.1               The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director, Place that proposed the Authority entering a Memorandum of Understanding with the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) in order to forge closer working between the two authorities. The report was supplemented with a presentation by representatives from LandWise Rural Resource Management and LandShare.

25.2               Councillor West stated that he welcomed the cementing of a key relationship for the authorities.

25.3               Councillor Mitchell stated that she fully supported the new stage in agreement between the authorities.

25.4               Councillor Janio noted his support for the agreement. He requested that the terms of reference for the City Downland Estate Advisory Board be brought back to Committee for ratification.

25.5               Councillor Theobald stated that he welcomed the proposals. He noted that he hoped for an update from the Council representative to the SDNPA as he had requested earlier in the year.

25.6               Councillor West clarified that he was content for the terms of reference for the City Downland Estate Advisory Board to be approved by the Committee. However, he advised that because these would be negotiated by many partners and organisations, Committee Members should be sensitive to the consequences of significant changes.

25.7               RESOLVED- That the Environment & Sustainability Committee agrees to:

1.         Endorse the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) set out in Annex 1;

2.         Encourage the Strategic Director Place to explore funding opportunities to support economic diversification within the Downland area including measures to boost eco tourism and promote access by the city’s local communities to the countryside;

3.         Establish a City Downland Estate Advisory Board with the terms of reference to be negotiated by the Strategic Director of Place and brought back to be ratified by the Environment & Sustainability Committee.