Agenda item

Consideration was given to report of the Head of Community Services.

At the invitation of the Chair, the Ecologist presented the report which sought approval for the designation and declaration of five Local Nature Reserves, namely Beaufort Hill Ponds & Woodland, Central Valley, Garden City, Parc Bryn Bach and Sirhowy Hill Woodlands. 

Blaenau Gwent currently had seven designated Local Nature Reserves totalling 120.3 hectares.  Declaration and designation of the sites contributed to the Council’s Biodiversity and Ecosystem Resilience Forward Plan (2019-22) which was developed in order to comply with the requirements of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016. 

The Officer went through the report and highlighted points contained therein.

A Member said he welcomed the report and supported the proposed areas.  However, in designating these areas, public opinion was that the Council was responsible for future maintenance, and with limited resources the Council was struggling to maintain existing rights of way etc.

In response the Officer confirmed that the areas were within Council ownership and already part of our day to day work.  The Council were already working in partnership with community groups to maintain and enhance these areas, and Welsh Government were also looking to get more people involved, and promoting nature recovery issues through grant funded projects, e.g. A Resilient Greater Gwent.

A Member said he fully supported the proposals and was happy to support Option 2.

Another Member referred to Parc Bryn Bach and expressed concern that designating the area may have a detrimental impact on any future proposals and subsequent planning applications submitted.  He therefore proposed that the report be amended, and that Parc Bryn Bach be removed at this time, pending discussions with Aneurin Leisure Trust.

The Officer said Parc Bryn Bach was already designated a SINC area so Development Management Procedure 14 would apply in terms of any future planning applications.

The Corporate Director Regeneration & Community Services explained that designation of LNR would not preclude any future development.  However, such designation would have the advantage of enhancing and protecting the area, and also provide opportunities to access resources to support this work.

A Member referred to the funding secured from the Enabling Natural Resources and Well-being Grant to deliver 12 sub-projects across the five Local Authority areas in Greater Gwent, and asked how much had been allocated for Blaenau Gwent.

The Ecologist confirmed that the amount was approximately £210k for the 5 Greater Gwent Local Authority areas.  Blaenau Gwent would receive approximately £40k, however, it was a project running on agile terms and the whole project budget had yet to be allocated.

A discussion ensued regarding maintenance when the Officer said designation of LNR was about ensuring protection of these areas.  Maintenance of pathways etc., would always be challenging in terms of the budget, but it was about prioritising, and partnership working, and hopefully funding could be directed towards these issues.

The Chair asked whether designation of LNR would be subject to public consultation, and the Officer confirmed that the legislation did not require public consultation, but it would form part of the LDP Deposit Plan process.

The Chair then referred to the Options for Recommendations, and a Member proposed Option 2, with an amendment that Parc Bryn Bach be removed from the list pending further discussions with ALT.

The proposal was seconded.

A vote was then taken on the proposed amendment and 4 Members voted in favour of the amendment.

Another Member proposed that Option 2 be supported, as outlined in the report, and this was seconded.

A vote was then taken on Option 2 and 5 Members voted in favour.

The Committee therefore AGREED to recommend that the report be accepted and Option 2 be supported, as outlined in the report, namely to designate and declare five Local Nature Reserves; Sirhowy Hill Woodlands, Beaufort Hill Ponds & Woodland, Parc Bryn Bach, Garden City and Central Valley.