Issue - meetings

Carolyn Jones, Ecology Development Officer, presented an update on the Living Don, a Rotherham Rivers project.

The Living Don was a 25 year strategic partnership programme covering a Priority Landscape-Scale Project Area.  The Programme aimed to bring about the pro active management of the River Don catchment in South Yorkshire to create a robust and ecologically functional green network from the high moors of the Peak District to the floodplain of the Lower Don Valley and the heart of urban Sheffield and Rotherham.

The Programme had successfully drawn down and delivered over £1M of biodiversity enhancement, public engagement and community stewardship work between 2009-12 focussing on the Sheffield Moors and Western Valleys.  The Rotherham Rivers area had been identified by the partners as the next priority area.

A successful application had been made to the WREN Biodiversity Action Fund (£226,929.00) and had been matched with £94,849 cash funding and £75,420 inkind contributions from project partners.

The project work would commence in September, 2013 and continue until October, 2016.  An approximate outline timetable was attached to the report submitted.

Discussion ensued on the report with the following issues raised:-

-          The need to forge links with the Chesterfield Canal Partnership

-          Discuss regarding the local flood risk management

-          Meet with Catcliffe Parish Council

Resolved:-That the Council’s support for the delivery of the Rotherham Rivers project be endorsed.