Issue - meetings

To consider a report by Assistant Director, Environment, Growth and Planning seeking approval to renew the Great Fen Project Collaboration Agreement for a further 5 year period.

Agreed to renewal the Great Fen Project Collaboration Agreement for a further 5 year period.

Further to Minute No. 09/34 and with the assistance of a report by the Assistant Director, Environment, Growth and Planning (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet was invited to consider the Council’s ongoing role in the Great Fen Project, which aims to restore over 3,000 hectares of wetland around the Woodwalton Fen and Holme Fen Nature Reserves. The report had been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well-Being) whose comments were relayed to the Cabinet.

Members were reminded that the Council was one of five core Project Partners alongside the Environment Agency, the Middle Level Commissioners, Natural England and the Wildlife Trust. The Partners had entered into a Collaboration Agreement which was due to expire in March 2014.

In considering the information before them, Executive Councillors were reminded that the Council supports the project by way of a contribution of £20k per annum and officer time and support. It was reported that the next stage in the Projects delivery, including the development of visitor facilities, would be fundamental in terms of maximising its local economic development potential. Having recognised the active role the Council will play in ensuring that an appropriate emphasis is placed upon the delivery of tangible economic, social and environmental benefits and in noting that the Council’s commitment would be reviewed when the new Agreement expires, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

that the Great Fen Project Collaboration Agreement be renewed for a further 5 year period.

To receive a report from the Assistant Director for Environment, Growth and Planning on the renewal of the Great Fen Project Collaboration Agreement.

(Councillor N J Guyatt, Executive Councillor for Strategic Housing and Planning, and Councillor D B Dew, Steering Group Member for the Great Fen Project, were in attendance for consideration of this item).

With the aid of a report by the Assistant Director for Environment, Growth and Planning (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Panel gave consideration to a proposal to renew the Great Fen Project Collaboration Agreement, which was due to expire in March 2014. Councillor N J Guyatt, Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning and Housing, outlined the aims of the Project when it was first initiated in the 1990s and its current objectives. He reported that the District Council was one of the five founding Partners alongside the Environment Agency, Middle Level Commissioners, Natural England and the Wildlife Trust.

Councillor D B Dew, Steering Group Member for the Great Fen Project, then explained the role of the Steering Group in governing the work of the Project and drew attention to the budget monitoring it undertook on a quarterly basis. One of the benefits of being involved in the Project was that it gave the Council the ability to provide technical expertise and guidance on a number of Project related matters, such as planning applications and the design of the new Visitors Centre.

In response to a question by a Member on what benefits the Project delivered to the District, the Assistant Director for Environment, Growth and Planning explained that it had brought a number of economic benefits including the creation of new agricultural jobs, enhanced levels of local contracting, increased volunteering opportunities and attracting visitors to the District. These trends were predicted to increase in the future.

In noting that the Council matched the funding provided by the four other founding Partners of the Project, the Panel was advised that this was utilised to fund the Great Fen Project Manager’s post and to stage ad-hoc promotional/educational events. Peterborough City and Cambridgeshire County Councils were “observing Partners” on the Steering Group, but it was hoped that they both would provide the Project with funding in the future.

A brief discussion ensued on the Visitor Centre which would be developed during the life of the new agreement. In response to questions, it was confirmed that the Centre would be owned by the Wildlife Trust and that there would, therefore, be no financial risk to the Council.

Having expressed their support for the renewal of the Agreement and their wish to continue monitoring the development of the Project, it was

RESOLVED

  that the Cabinet be recommended to approve the renewal of the Great Fen Project Collaboration Agreement for a further five year period.