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Decision Maker: Executive Councillor for Open Spaces and City Services
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
To approved the process and adoption of byelaws under section 21 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 and section 66, Land Drainage Act 1991.
Matter
for Decision: Proposal that byelaws
be introduced to enable enhanced protection of Cherry Hinton Chalk Pits Local
Nature Reserve. The site
consists of three adjacent chalk pits designated for their ecological value. In
addition to LNR status, two of the Pits (East Pit and West Pit) are also
nationally designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). The
Wildlife Trust own and manage East Pit and lease the other two pits from the
City Council.
Decision of the Executive Councillor:
The Executive
Councillor resolved to:
i.
Defer
the item and ask officers to bring back a revised report to a future meeting.
Reasons for the Decision: As set out in the officer’s report
Any alternative options considered and
rejected: As set out in the
officer’s report
Scrutiny Considerations:
The committee received a report from the Green Space Manager.
In response to members questions the Green Space
Manager and the Nature Conservation Project Officer confirmed the following:
i.
The site consisted of three dry clay pits. Two of
the pits are owned by the City Council and have been designated as nature reserves.
The third pit had been privately owned until 2009 but was now owned by the
Wildlife Trust. As this site was now open to the public, the Wildlife Trust have requested the adoption of byelaws to protect the site.
ii.
Agreed to arrange a site visit for members of the
committee and to circulate a detailed site map.
The committee raised concern over the specific wording of the byelaws and
highlighted the possibility for confusion over interpretation and enforcement.
Sections (5), (6) and (15) were highlighted as specific examples.
It was suggested that clearer guidance and a site-specific enforcement
policy would be beneficial to support the byelaws.
Whilst they supported the implementation of the byelaws in principal, the
committee proposed that the item be deferred and brought back to a future
meeting.
The Executive
Councillor agreed that the item be deferred and brought back to a future
meeting.
Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted):
Not applicable.
Publication date: 18/06/2013
Date of decision: 14/03/2013