Meeting documents

"This Dorset County Council  ensures  that the proposed National Park is seriously considered as part of discussions on local government re-organisation."

Context Statement from Cllr Kimber:

Economic Opportunities for Dorset and East Devon

For the past couple of years, in response to an initiative from Natural England, a team from Dorset and East Devon has been developing proposals for the designation of a National Park, first put forward in a Government report of 1945. Natural England has given the proposal a positive first assessment.

Britain’s National Parks are world-famous for their outstanding scenery and environments. Much less well-known is their success in promoting thriving and resilient rural economies and communities.

An independent report on the "Economic Opportunities, Benefits and Wider Impacts of a Dorset and East Devon National Park" is now available: www.dorsetandedevonnp.co.uk/news

The key messages we take from the report are as follows. A Dorset & East Devon National Park would:

·       Offer opportunities, benefits and advantages to the economy and businesses in the National Park and throughout Dorset and East Devon.

·       Promote thriving local communities, including affordable housing, key services, employment and skills.

·       Bring additional and more certain resources to the area, including central government funding which might amount to £10m annually, plus other sources of income. The Government has assured National Parks of future funding and support.

·       Conserve and enhance the area’s environment, which is our greatest economic asset.

Local government re-organisation provides an opportunity for Dorset councils to include a National Park as part of a Devolution proposal to government in 2017. A companion study examines how the National Park Authority would work efficiently with a Unitary Authority on service delivery and financial outcomes. We see these studies as significant contributions to Dorset councils’ and others’ consideration of this question.

We look forward to discussing with all interested partners the significant opportunities which a National Park would offer.

Dorset & East Devon National Park Team

A National Park Delivers Greater Influence for Rural Communities

A new discussion paper www.dorsetandedevonnp.co.uk/news examines how the Dorset & E Devon National Park Authority (NPA) would deliver greater influence for rural communities, as well as working efficiently with partner Local Authorities to improve services and financial outcomes. Benefitting all communities, a National Park would bring:

·       Additional and more certain funding benefitting all councils, communities and the economy. In addition to an assured central government grant of maybe £10 million per year, NPAs secure further funding and help others eg farmers to do so.

·       A stronger partnership way of working. A NPA is a partnership and operates through partnerships. A small % of NPA funding goes on running costs. The vast majority is spent through partnerships with communities, farmers, landowners, businesses, the not-for-profit sector.

·       Enhanced local representation, influence and voice for rural communities. Elected council representatives make up three quarters of the NPA, and Parish and Town Councils are a third of these. A NPA would strengthen grass roots democratic influence and representation.

·       Enhanced Planning influence and capability. A NPA would ensure local control of Planning, with no Government-imposed housing targets. It makes the Local and Management Plan for the NP in consultation with communities and others. NPAs approve a higher % of planning applications than other Local Authorities because they work hard for good, sustainable development in the right places, to support communities, local affordable housing, employment, and services.

·       Increased coherence and expertise. A NPA would bring joined up thinking, policy and delivery across the environment and economy, and expertise eg in land management, conservation, heritage, recreation, community liaison, and Planning.

Our National Parks not only conserve and enhance our environment and heritage, they also promote thriving and resilient rural economies and communities.

This important aspect is covered in an independent study: "Economic Opportunities, Benefits and Wider Impacts of a Dorset and East Devon National Park": www.dorsetandedevonnp.co.uk/news

Local government re-organisation provides an opportunity for Dorset councils to include a National Park as part of a Devolution proposal to government in 2017.

These studies are significant contributions to this debate on our future.

Dorset & East Devon National Park Team - www.dorsetandedevonnp.co.uk

A briefing paper on this item is provided by the Director for Environment and the Economy.

The Committee was informed that a motion proposed by Councillor Paul Kimber which supported the idea of a National Park had been submitted at the County Council meeting on 21 July 2016, resulting in the matter being referred to the Economic Growth and Overview Scrutiny Committee for their consideration. Accordingly the Committee now considered the motion asking ’that the

Council ensures that the proposed National Park be seriously considered as part of

discussions on local government re-organisation’.

Members were informed that a locally-led group has been established to campaign for the establishment of a Dorset and East Devon National Park based on, but not restricted to, the area covered by the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), the East Devon AONB and the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. An application had been made to Natural England, the Government’s statutory adviser on protected landscapes, to consider the establishment of a National Park on this basis and who were expected to give the proposal further consideration in due course.

The Service Director’s report set out the purpose and role of National Parks and the process of designating them, what evidence was taken in to consideration in doing this, potential benefits and concerns over their establishment and what tests needed to be met in the consideration of this.

were detailed, with the Service Director – Environment explained that the consideration given to this would be evidence based to ensure that, on balance, it brought value to the county and was an asset to Dorset. Whilst the County Council would not be responsible for making the decision on this, their contribution to the process would be much valued. He looked forward to further constructive dialogue with those proposing it.

Councillor Kimber presented his motion, outlining the basis for this and what it entailed. He explained that the economic advantages regarding the national park should be explored and was happy to be involved in any investigations. He considered that the formation of a national park would provide an economic stimulus for Dorset in terms of tourism, housing, skilled employment and would be seen as a means of enhancing and protecting the environment. The provision of affordable housing was an essential component for the park.  He considered that the positive evaluations made for the Park’s viability was evidence that it would be an asset for Dorset. Speaking as a Portland Town Councillor he confirmed that the Town Council welcomed the idea and would be happy to be a part of it. The National Park brand was highly prestigious and would play its part in helping to foster economic wellbeing and vitality.

Mr Richard Brown, of the Dorset and East Devon National Park team, considered that as the environment was Dorset’s greatest economic asset, a National Park would help to maintain its value given the duty it had to conserve and enhance. He considered that it would bring significant benefits economically, culturally and environmentally and would contribute towards tourism fulfilling its potential. He felt that evidence of what the South Downs National Park had achieved demonstrated how progressive national parks could be and what they could do, being realistic about what rural life entailed and understanding the balance between economic and environmental needs. As such, the provision of affordable housing was seen to be essential in attracting and retaining young families and key workers. As a planning authority in its own right, this would be given dutiful consideration by any park authority. In seeking to foster economic and social well-being of local communities it was considered that the Park would be good for the prosperity of Dorset and the County Council was being asked to play their part in seeing this come to fruition.

Some concern was expressed by members at the potential for local authority planning controls to be eroded by this proposal but were assured that a National Park, in having a vested interest in what was best for the County, would use the planning process as a means of achieving this.  Parish Council involvement would ensure that local needs and concerns were met and as national polices on housing did not apply, control on development would be better regulated. In allaying fears that areas outside of the designated park area would shoulder the burden of that share of  housing stock, there was a commitment to affordable housing being developed in the park  and that such a scenario had not be borne out in South Downs. 

The Committee appreciated that collaborative working arrangements throughout Dorset were critical to any proposed park being a success, but asked what scope there was for the designated area to not just accord with the Dorset (and Devon) AONB but embrace the whole of Dorset.

Mr Brown confirmed that discussion of the perimeters of the Park was to be discussed based on evaluation of its value and merit. The AONB area proposal was considered to be a starting point which could well be adapted to encompass a larger area, if this was considered appropriate and the necessary criteria was met. Portland Town Council’s request to be included within the submission could be looked at on that basis.

In thanking the local group for bringing the issue to their attention, the Committee acknowledged the principle of establishing a National Park across Dorset and the perceived economic and environmental benefits this would bring and agreed that the matter should remain under consideration.

Resolved

That the proposal for the establishment of a Dorset and East Devon National Park and the evidence assembled in relation to this be noted and the matter being kept under review.

Reason for Decision

The proposal for a National Park could potentially support the County Council’s corporate outcomes in relation to a healthy and prosperous Dorset. However, the proposal was still at a developmental stage and, as Dorset County Council would not be the key decision-maker in whether or not a National Park was established, no decision was required at this point beyond noting the evidence assembled to date and agreeing to keep the issue under review.