Apologies were received from William Kirstein, James Buchanan and Richard Brett.

Nominations were invited for the position of Chairman of the Rutland Countryside Access Forum for the Municipal Year 2023-24.

William Cross proposed, and this was seconded for Roger Linford to be Chairman to the Rutland Countryside Access Forum, there were no other nominations. Upon being put to the vote this was unanimously carried.

RESOLVED

That Roger Linford be APPOINTED Chairman of the Rutland Countryside Access Forum for the municipal year 2023-24

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm the Minutes made at the meeting of the Forum held on 8^th March 2023.

The minutes of the meeting held on the 8^th March 2023 were considered and AGREED as a true record.

The public will be able to ask questions on the business at the discretion of the Chair, subject to a time limit of 3 minutes per person.

There were no questions from members of the public.

To receive written reports from John Law.

John Law introduced the written report on Miles Without Barriers.

He informed Members regarding the Green Social Prescribing, at the previous Countryside Access Forum meeting, Rutland County Council staff were made aware again of the green social prescribing opportunities offered by walk leaflets and the Countryside for All leaflets. The Lincolnshire leaflets were available through the Lincolnshire Joint Local Access Forum. The Rutland leaflets were available from Stuart Crook. Although interest was shown at the time by Rutland County Council members of staff and the other contacts that were provided, there had been no requests for any of the leaflets.

Councillor Harvey agreed to pass on details of a contact who was part of the Primary Care Network Team to try and assist for the information to be shared. Councillor Harvey also felt it was worth to get in contact with Active Rutland since they took over GP referrals from April.

John also informed Members of the Draft Project Definition Document which was to help inform people of the degree of accessibility of Public Rights of Way in Rutland. This project aimed to identify physical barriers on the PROW network and provide an online map displaying routes with similar access standards.

The Chairman thanked John for the very comprehensive document but wanted to emphasise for users with limited mobility, bridleways have much to commend compared with footpaths as they would be style free.

William Cross suggested to help with getting information out to people was for a QR Code be set up on village noticeboards to direct anyone to the relevant information. Stuart Crook agreed with the proposal but made Members aware that the websites it would direct people to needed to be more of a finished product first.

John lastly informed Members of the draft synopsis for Miles Without Barriers which was to inform possible funding sources of the Forum aimed to do and see if they have an interest in funding the Miles Without Barriers project. The figure looked at for the project was £10k, this cost would be broken down in detail and would explain what was needed for the project to happen.

It was confirmed that the funding would be held by Rutland County Council on the Forum’s behalf.

To receive a written report from John Law.

John Law introduced the written report on Rutland Water.

The survey for the Rutland Water Countryside for All leaflet, which was a route from Normanton to Sykes Lane, was undertaken by Stuart Crook and a member of the South Lincolnshire and Rutland Local Access Forum. The results of the survey the Rutland Water Countryside for All leaflet was produced.

The Local Access Forum raised money to train organisations in surveying routes to create Countryside for All route leaflets which two members of staff from the Rutland Water Nature Reserve were trained and they went on to produce the Rutland Water Nature Reserve Countryside For All leaflet.

Since the pandemic we were told by Anglian Water, further surveys would be undertaken to revise the two leaflets. We were also told that other routes had been surveyed around Rutland Water to create additional Countryside for All leaflets. Accessing these leaflets now had become difficult there had been no success with communication back from Anglian Water.

The Chair agreed to further contact Anglian Water to seek a response on the current situation of the leaflets.

To receive a written report from John Law.

John Law introduced the written report on the Countryside Access Forum Logo.

A new logo would help benefit the leaflets that are produced and for potential future members to join the forum.

It was confirmed by Stuart Crook that the Communications Team at Rutland County Council did not have the capacity to assist with a new logo for the forum.

Councillor Harvey agreed she would have discussions with officers outside of the forum at the potential route of apprentices for the Council who potentially could help with the production of a new logo.

To receive a written report from John Law.

John Law introduced the written report on Farm Land Constructions.

He informed Members that in February this year Natural England released their Guidance to help towns and cities turn greener with their web site. Whilst this was a step in the right direction for towns and cities, it does not appear to help rural areas.

John asked for the Forum’s approval to work on a project with other local access forums where we may be able to persuade Government to listen to our concerns. With the CAF agreement I would pursue this matter with the CAF and the Lincolnshire Joint Local Access Forum and their Disability Subgroup. I would ask for input from members as the need arises and these maybe between Forum meetings.

Councillors Harvey and McRobb gave the latest timetable on the Local Plan for Rutland especially regarding Section 18 Consultation which was the next stage and felt the call for sites would be interesting for the Forum to look at once they are listed.

It was agreed that the Clerk would send the agenda link for the October Cabinet meeting to the forum members so they could access the Local Plan item. John would then come back with an updated framework before he was to work on the project.

There were no items of urgent business.

Wednesday, 13^th March 2024.

Wednesday, 13^th March 2024.