Rights of Way & Highway Licensing Panel
Tuesday 12 June 2012 6.30 pm
RIGHTS OF WAY & HIGHWAY LICENSING PANEL
12 JUNE 2012
PRESENT: Councillors J Stretton (Chairman), Hunt (Vice-Chair), J Evans, Ilyas and Penfold.
Officers: Anthony Hurst and Tanya Leftwich.
Also present: Margaret Bowdery and Kath Cutting (East Berks Ramblers).
PART I
01/12 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
None were received.
02/12 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
- None were received.
03/12 MINUTES
The Part I minutes from the meeting held on the 12 March 2012 were agreed as a correct record.
04/12 BRAY FOOTPATH 24 (part): PROPOSED DIVERSION ORDER
The Principal Rights of Way Officer explained to Members that the report sought the Panel’s authorisation to publish a Diversion Order for part of Bray Footpath 24 in response to an application from the land owner. Members were informed that a plan showing the proposal was attached at Appendix 1 (page 5 of the agenda).
- Margaret Bowdery (East Berks Ramblers) informed members that she had met with the land owner and could confirm that they had been happy with the Diversion Order.
- Margaret Bowdery explained that she was pleased to see that the proposal included the use of a good surface, that trees would be planted and that the land owner had agreed to keep the hedgerow trimmed so that they did not restrict the views.
- Margaret Bowdery informed Members that the land owner had a horse paddock and that the Diversion Order would reduce the possibility that dogs could spook the horses and would therefore be beneficial.
- Members were informed that there had been a great movement in 1997 to get horses off roads and that this path had been a number one priority to upgrade to horse use.
- It was noted that the proposed path would be used for maintenance access and not as a through route.
- Members were informed that the Local Access Forum had been concerned about the width and surfacing of the path as they believed it would encourage vehicular use in the future.
- The Principal Rights of Way Officer referred Members to Appendix 2 (on page 6 of the agenda) and confirmed that the width of the path would remain the same.
- Members were given photos of the proposed surfacing of the path and informed that it would be useable all year round and would be hard wearing.
- The Principal Rights of Way Officer confirmed that the existing path would remain but would only be used as vehicular access to the farm.
- Members were informed that the land owner would be responsible for repairs to the path.
- The Principal Rights of Way Officer agreed to provide the Local Access Forum with the additional information via a letter where they would be given fourteen days to respond.
- The Principal Rights of Way Officer explained to Members that the consultation process had included the Local Access Forum having considered the diversion proposal at its meeting on the 7th June 2012.
In the ensuing discussion the following points were noted:
- Councillor J Evans proposed that the Panel accepted the recommendation in the report subject to the Principal Rights of Way Officer providing the Local Access Forum with the additional information, which Councillor Hunt seconded.
- RESOLVED: Unanimously that;
- (i) That the Head of Legal Services, in consultation with the Head of highways, Engineering and Transport, be authorised to publish a Diversion Order for Bray Footpath 24 (part) as detailed in this report subject to confirmation that the Local Access Forum had no objection to the diversion.
(ii) If no objections are received following publication of the Order, or any such objections are subsequently withdrawn, to confirm the Order without further recourse to the Panel. If objections are received and not subsequently withdrawn, to report the proposal back to the Panel for further consideration.
- Tuesday 4 September 2012
- Monday 3 December 2012
- Tuesday 12 March 2013
06/12 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 – EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC
- RESOLVED: That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting whilst discussion takes place on item 7 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of part I of Schedule 12A of the Act"