Agenda and minutes

Christian Hayes, Countryside & Rights of Way Act Officer, to report.

-  To advise the Cabinet Member of the investigations into the petition re:  Catcliffe Footpath No. 3.

Further to Minute No. G68 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Environment held on 15^th November, 2010, consideration was given to a report, presented by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act Officer, relating to the investigations following receipt of a petition regarding Catcliffe Footpath No. 3.

It was clarified that the petitioners were seeking for a legal extinguishment or diversion of the path.

It was explained that in August 2010 a site investigation revealed that some residents had encroached on the path in order to extend their gardens and had physically blocked the path with fencing.  As a result residents were requested to remove the fencing panels and re-open the official line of the path to facilitate the Council looking into the legal diversion of the path.

Reference was made to the location plan attached to the submitted report, and to a recent photograph of the now cleared footpath.

It was reported that talks had now begun with the adjacent land owner with a view to diverting the footpath.  It was noted that to date informal consultation with residents and the Local Access Forum had not generated any objections.  Reference was also made to the crime statistics relating to this footpath.

It was pointed out that diverting the right of way away from the rear gardens onto open land would enable local residents to extend their gardens and protect their property more securely.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the current position, and proposed action, be noted.

(2)  That further consideration of the matter be deferred until further talks have taken place with the adjacent land owner and an alternative route for Catcliffe Footpath 3 can be agreed, and that a further report be submitted to a future meeting of the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Environment.

Noel Bell, Planner, to report.

-  to approve the contents of the report prior to formal sign-off.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Planner, relating to the production by the South Yorkshire Forest Partnership, on behalf of Transform South Yorkshire, of a South Yorkshire Green Infrastructure Strategy.

It was explained that the production of the strategy was a requirement of the Growth Point funding from the DCLG and was being developed in two parts.

Part 1 of the project had culminated with the production of the South Yorkshire Green Infrastructure Strategy, which proposed a 20 year vision for improving the sub-region’s network of key green infrastructure, and set out proposals for preparing a masterplan and a detailed delivery plan for the period up to 2015 (this would form Part 2).

Details of the key goals were set out in the submitted report.

It was also explained that the document would be part of the evidence base of the Rotherham Local Development Framework, pending future consideration to its adoption as a Supplementary Planning Document.

Resolved:-  That the content of the South Yorkshire Green Infrastructure Strategy be approved to enable its formal signing-off at the 25th March, 2011 Transform South Yorkshire Board meeting.