Agenda and minutes

(Head of Research and Democratic Services)  To report the appointment of any substitute members for the meeting.

The Panel noted that Councillor T Richardson would be substituting for Councillor P Turpin.

(Head of Research and Democratic Services). To declare interests in any items on the agenda.

In considering whether to declare a personal or a prejudicial interest under the Code of Conduct, Overview & Scrutiny members are asked pay particular attention to paragraph 11 of the Code in addition to the more familiar requirements.

This requires the declaration of a personal and prejudicial interest in any matter before an OS Committee which relates to a decision of or action by another Committee or Sub Committee of the Council, a Joint Committee or Joint Sub Committee in which the Council is involved and of which the Councillor is also a member.

Paragraph 11 does not refer to Cabinet decisions or attendance at an OS meeting purely for the purpose of answering questions or providing information on such a matter.

Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, Councillor S Murray declared a general personal but non-prejudicial interest by virtue of being the Council’s representative on the Roding valley Meadows Local Nature Reserve Management Committee and the nature reserve having a partnership with Roding Valley High School. He was also a non active member of the Friends and Walkers association.

Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, Councillor Mrs Grigg declared a general personal but non-prejudicial interest by virtue of being the Council’s representative on the Roding Valley Meadows Local Nature Reserve Management Committee.

Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, Councillor J M Whitehouse declared a general personal but non-prejudicial interest by virtue of being an ordinary member of the Essex Wildlife Trust.

To note and agree the attached minutes of the meeting held on 31 July 2006.

The minutes of the meeting held on 31 July 2006 was agreed as a correct record.

Chairman/Lead Officer) To note the attached updated Terms of Reference and associated Work Programme. The Panel are asked at each meeting to review both documents.

The Panel noted the Terms of Reference and Work Programme, which they considered still to be relevant and would not require any amendment.

BACKGROUND

The Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee have established a Task & Finish Panel, to review options for the Future Management of the Roding Valley Meadows Local Nature Reserve, once the current Agreement with Essex Wildlife Trust expires in April 2007.  The Panel will have had the opportunity to visit the Reserve on the 8^th August, to see the site first hand.

CONSULTATION MEETING

It is proposed that the Essex Wildlife Trust will be given an opportunity to formally present the case for an Extension/Renewal of their Management Agreement.  The Trust will be asked to detail what added value and expertise they can bring to the management of the Reserve.  The Panel will be able to ask questions of the Trust and seek further details.

After the Trust presentation the Panel have requested that the Council’s own In-House Countryside Management Service, ‘Countrycare” present the implications of the alternative option of bringing the Reserve back into direct Council control.  Again, the Panel will have the opportunity to question them.

The Panel would also like to seek the views of both the Reserve Management Committee and the Liaison Committee, on the current arrangements and what they feel could be in the future best interests of the Reserve.

Finally, the Panel would like to speak with any local people who use the Reserve to establish their feelings.  Note that it is not the intention to have this initial part of the evening as an open ‘Public Meeting’, rather it is to invite those individuals who have expressed a desire to voice an opinion to attend.  This will have to be by invitation due to constraints of time.  However, the Panel shall also welcome written submissions.

A proposed Timetable for the meeting is as attached.

It was noted that the Head of Leisure Services had received correspondence from the Grange Farm Trust who could not attend tonight’s meeting. It was explained and accepted that the Panel would need at some time to invite the Chairman and/or Vice Chairman of the Trust to consult them on their views about the future management of Roding Valley Meadows, prior to any final decision. It was recognised that as Landowners on the current Reserve and Landowners on the potential extension to the Reserve (including the location of the possible Interpretation Centre) the Trust’s agreement was necessary on future management options.

The meeting welcomed Chris Johnson, a representative local user of the reserve and former chair of the Roding Valley Wildlife Group; and two members of the Liaison Group, Roger Warner, Chairman of the liaison group and Jennifer Morgan a member of the liaison group.

The Liaison group indicated that:

• they were unhappy with the fact that there was an extension to the cattle grazing in the reserve;
• they would not like to see the contract with Essex Wildlife Trust (EWT) renewed as they had issues with coppicing, hedgelaying, fencing, the use of barbed wire, and the cutting back of scrub;
• the wild flower species are declining;
• only half the reserve is fenced off; and
• they were now getting on better with the new Warden, but indicated that it would be better for the Council to employ its own warden;

Chris Johnson commented that he thought that EWT were best qualified to manage the reserve, but a number of restrictions should be placed on them as they had a lot of species loss (down to poor management techniques) and some bad PR over fencing and hedging issues. He also thought that the reserve had been used as a test bed for a number of procedures.

In answer to some questions from the Panel, Roger Warner said the Liaison group generally communicated with EWT through the council contact officer and the liaison meetings. He could contact the warden via his mobile phone. He thought that when EWT first took over the reserve they were not very good at liaising with the public and would generally do things their own way, eventually things did get better, but over the last few years things had deteriorated, with problems arising over coppicing of Willow trees, the elimination of scrub land, over grazing of cattle, not managing the hay meadows and not enforcing old agreements.

They were also concerned about the reduction of species and the loss of wetland. This resulted in the loss of a large number of ground nesting birds that used the wetland habitat.

Chris Johnson summed up by saying that he thought that EWT treated the reserve as a sort of farmed park. It should be an area that is allowed to grow wild.

The Chairman drew this part of the consultation to a close and thanked them for their time and for giving their views and opinions to the Panel.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

The detailed arrangements for the visit to Copped Hall were presented to the members present.

Panel to note:

• The visit to Copped Hall Charity Fun Run on Sunday 17 September 2006; and
• To hold a meeting at the Civic Offices on 28 September 2006 with the Head teacher of King Harold School about the future management of the Waltham Abbey Sports Centre.

Next meeting to be held on 28 September 2006, with the Head Teacher and Chair of Governors of King Harold Secondary School.