Issue - meetings

As detailed in the recommendations.

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Environment introduced the report which sought approval for the formation of a Joint Committee for the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Denbighshire County Council had been the Lead Authority for the AONB since 1996 and would continue to be the Lead Authority for the Joint Committee and would provide the Secretary and Treasurer.

The Joint Committee would be made up of six Cabinet Members, two from each Local Authority, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham, and a Secretary and Treasurer.  The Joint Committee would be fully supported by an AONB Partnership, an officer Working Group and an Annual Forum.  The proposed structure was detailed in the draft Legal Agreement which was appended to the report. 

The Director of Environment explained that it would be recommended to the Joint Committee, that in a time of general reductions in spending, that the Joint Committee be asked to keep the overall cost, and therefore the contribution made by Flintshire, to the minimum necessary for the effective working of the Committee.

RESOLVED:

            (a)       That the setting up of a Joint Committee be approved;

(b)       That the Joint Committee arrangements as set out in the Draft Legal Agreement appended to the report, excluding any financial commitments above current levels and amendments to the period of notice provided prior to withdrawal from the Joint Committee, be approved; and

(c)        That, at this stage, it be approved that the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment and the Cabinet Member for Economic Development be initially nominated to represent the Council.