Issue - meetings

To receive a report by the Director of Environmental and Community Services on the approval of the Masterplan for the Great Fen (a copy of the Masterplan is enclosed with Members copies only).

Noted the approval of the Great Fen Masterplan by the Project Steering Committee.

Further to Minute No. 09/43, consideration was given to a report by the Director of Environmental and Community Services to which was attached a revised Masterplan for the Great Fen.  Members were advised that the Masterplan had been the subject of extensive consultation with interested parties prior to its approval by the Project Partners (a copy of both the Masterplan, consultation key findings and the Director’s report are appended in the Minute Book).

Having received the views of the Overview and Scrutiny (Environmental Well-Being) Panel on the matter, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

that approval of the Great Fen Masterplan by the Project Steering Committee be noted.

To receive a report by the Director of Environmental and Community Services on the Masterplan for the Great Fen.

Further to Minute No. 09/29, the Panel considered a report by the Director of Environmental and Community Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on the Great Fen Masterplan which had now been approved by the Project Steering Committee.  The Director stressed that this was a spatial plan that indicated how the project might be developed by the partner organisations.

In response to a question concerning the financial implications, the Panel was informed that the Council's exposure to the project was limited to £20,000 per annum for the next five years under the terms of the collaboration agreement, although the Council could withdraw from the Steering Committee at any time. If the Council chose to do so, the project would be continued by the other partners with the Wildlife Trust and Natural England having secured the ownership of a large proportion of the land required.

The Panel was advised that the loan being approved by the Cabinet to the Wildlife Trust represented a commercial business decision between partners with shared objectives. The loan would be used to purchase land which would fulfil District Council objectives and aspects of the Masterplan.

The Panel drew attention to the lack of reference to flood defences throughout the Masterplan but was informed that three flood storage areas had been allocated throughout the Great Fen, with work on this aspect of the project being undertaken by the Middle Level Commission.

Members were informed that further detailed work would be undertaken by the partners to produce action plans to take forward those aspects of the project for which they were responsible, each would have to consider the business planning and financial implications of their proposals and, for this reason, an overarching business plan was not appropriate.

The Panel agreed to a suggestion that a site visit to the Great Fen be convened with representatives of partner groups and the project manager present to enable Members to view how the land is managed and to discuss the project with partners.  The Panel also requested bi-annual reports from the Director of Environmental and Community Services on the progress of the Great Fen Project and details as to the cost of the Council's involvement in the project by way of officer time. 

RESOLVED

  that the Cabinet be advised of the Panel's views on the Great Fen Masterplan.