Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment.

(a)    That the Stour Valley strategy be endorsed, and that Cabinet supports it being included in the Dorset Council Local Plan.

(b)    Using a Memorandum of Understanding between its core partners of The National Trust, BCP Council and Dorset Council, that the Stour Valley partnership model be approved.

(c)    That core partners developing fund-raising bids to external grant bodies to assist delivery of the Stour Valley objectives, specifically DEFRA’s Landscape Recovery Fund, be supported.

(d)    That authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, for future decision making in relation to this project.

Reason for the decision

Adopting the partnership model provides continued governance and oversight of the project and ensures on-going delivery of the key aims and objectives. It also provides a strong platform to submit funding bids that will lead to more targeted delivery.

The Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment set out a report on the Stour Valley – Strategy and Memorandum of understanding.  The Stour Valley Strategy was a regionally significant opportunity to ecologically restore a river valley landscape, with potential to support health and well-being outcomes, access to nature and for local livelihoods for the c. 5000,000 people who lived near to it.

Members supported the project and noted the cost implications related to staffing resources within the respective partner teams. The current staff time in Dorset Council to deliver the project was 12 days a year.

It was proposed by Cllr R Bryan seconded by Cllr A Parry

Decision

(a)    That the Stour Valley strategy be endorsed, and that Cabinet supports it being included in the Dorset Council Local Plan.

(b)    Using a Memorandum of Understanding between its core partners of The National Trust, BCP Council and Dorset Council, that the Stour Valley partnership model be approved.

(c)    That core partners developing fund-raising bids to external grant bodies to assist delivery of the Stour Valley objectives, specifically DEFRA’s Landscape Recovery Fund, be supported.

(d)    That authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, for future decision making in relation to this project.

Reason for the decision

Adopting the partnership model provided continued governance and oversight of the project and ensures on-going delivery of the key aims and objectives. It also provided a strong platform to submit funding bids that would lead to more targeted delivery.