Alan Keene proposed Councillor Rayner. This was seconded by Geoffrey Copas.

After the election of Councillor Rayner as Chairman, Geoffrey Copas proposed William Emmett as Vice-Chairman. This was seconded by Councillor Hunt. Geoffrey Copas also expressed preference for there to be a Chairman and Vice-Chairman rather than two co-Chairmen. The Forum agreed.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED: That Councillor Rayner be appointed Chairman and William Emmett be appointed Vice-Chairman for the Rural Forum.

To welcome everyone to the meeting.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies received from Councillor David Cannon, Councillor David Coppinger, Andrew Randall, Mark Hemmings and Colin Rayner.

To receive any declarations of interest.

No declarations of interests.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held 23 March 2022.

Nick Philp and William Westacott stated that their surnames were spelt incorrectly. The clerk confirmed to correct these.

AGREED UNANIMOUSLY: That the minutes of the meeting held on 30^th November 2021 were a true and accurate record.

To receive an update.

Before the item was introduced, David Scott, Head of Communities, announced the Annual Rural Tour which was scheduled on 28^th June and was to be hosted by the Copas family. He explained an outline of the event and sought to ensure there was a high attendance.

The Vice-Chairman William Emmett asked the Chairman if ‘any other business’ could be added on discussing the Council’s policy on verge and danger signs being obliterated and overgrown in rural areas of the Borough. The Chairman agreed.

(Tom Copas entered the meeting)

The Chairman introduced the item by explaining the background to the paper: the new proposed Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) was supposed to go onto the Cabinet agenda in April but was withdrawn to gain more consultation. As the farming community was the main consultees, an extraordinary meeting of the Rural Forum was organised. She handed over to James Thorpe, Sustainability and Climate Change Lead.

James Thorpe gave a presentation which outlined the new Biodiversity Action Plan and the next steps. He started off with the background whereby the new BAP where work on it began when the Council declared a climate and environment emergency in 2019. The BAP included 6 different habitat action plans (HAPs): woodland, grassland, farmland, waterways, standing water and urban. There was a target of ensuring 30% of land in RBWM would be a space for nature by 2030 in line with the Council’s Corporate Plan goal.

After the presentation, Councillor Stimson expressed apologises on how the BAP was communicated and the lack of engagement with the farming community. She stated that it should have been clear that the formulation of the BAP was about an engagement process and data collection and not “stamping on [farmer’s] turf.”

The Vice-Chairman William Emmett commented that it was an understatement that the farming community was surprised that the new BAP was placed on the agenda at the Cabinet meeting in April. He stated his biggest disappointment was why no Councillor had put this on a Rural Forum agenda to be discussed months prior.

Councillor Hunt gave some criticisms of the draft Biodiversity Action Plan. She argued it placed huge burden and responsibility on the agricultural community. She pointed out that other biodiversity action plans from other local authorities did not place the burden on farmers. Her examples included habitat decline being caused by agricultural intensification, development and pollution, and sub-habitats placing an onus on farmers. She also commented that it was confusing that the increase in public access to the woodland habitat threatened it, despite there being some cases of environmentally friendly public footpaths as well as the advocacy to increase public access to rural areas.

Jason Mills, Natural Environment Manager, replied that RBWM always sought to encourage access with its parks, open spaces and natural areas, stating that one of responsibilities was to improve this access. He gave a recent example of installing natural trail through an ancient woodland.

Councillor Hunt questioned about fauna being trampled on, while paths were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 91.

To note the details of the next meeting:

5.30pm on Tuesday 29^th November 2022 in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Maidenhead.

Forum members noted that the next meeting would be held on 29^th November 2022 in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Maidenhead at 4:30pm. The forum members supported the use of hybrid meetings.