Southend-on-Sea Borough Council
Agenda
Item No.
Report of Corporate Director of Enterprise, Tourism and
the Environment
to
Cabinet and all Members of the Council
4th
on
November 2008
Report prepared by: Davina Millership
Draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan
Economic & Environmental Scrutiny Committee – Executive Councillor: Anna Waite
A Part 1 Public Agenda item
1.
Purpose of Report
1.1
The Rights of Way Improvement Plan has reached the final draft stage and it is a
statutory duty to undertake a public consultation exercise. The document must
be made available to all user groups, neighbouring highway authorities, Natural
England (formerly Countryside Agency) and the general public.
The
recommended consultation period is 8 weeks during school term time and 12
weeks during out-of-school time. All comments received will be considered and
amendments made to the document where applicable. The final ROWIP will be
presented to Members for approval and formal adoption before being made
available to the public at large.
2.
Recommendation
2.1
That the Draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan be approved for public
consultation.
3.
Background
3.1
The Countryside and Rights of way Act 2000 (CROW) requires all highway
authorities in England and Wales to prepare and publish a Rights of Way
Improvement Plan (ROWIP).
3.2
The ROWIP is a strategic document and is the prime means by which a local
highway authority will identify the changes to be made to their Public Rights of
Way (PROW) network in respect of management and improvements.
3.3
Network improvements include, among many others, delivering a better provision
for walkers, cyclists, equestrians and the less abled.
3.4
The ROWIP must include an assessment of the current network. This was
achieved by means of a questionnaire made available to the general public.
3.5
Responses were analysed and included within the Plan.
Draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan
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Report No DETE08109 – Final (Cab)
3.6
A desk stop study was undertaken to evaluate provision of the network on the
ground and to establish where links could be introduced, both within the borough
and for cross-boundary links.
3.7
The document contains a Statement of Action (SoA) which must set out how the
network is to be managed and improved in the future.
3.8
The SoA is delivered by means of Core Actions as set out in the document.
3.9
The SoA must also link the actions to current strategic documents in place with
the Borough Council.
3.10
A Programme will be developed as a guide for implementation of the Core
Actions.
3.11
The ROWIP is to be reviewed in not more than 10 year intervals, however, Good
Practice would be to revisit the plan more frequently to assess delivery of Core
Actions and make amendments where applicable.
4.
Corporate Implications
4.1
Contribution to Council’s Vision & Critical Priorities
Implementation of the Core Actions set out in the ROWIP includes the
improvement of the public’s awareness of the network which will add to customer
satisfaction and create long-term benefits for improving the health and well-being
of the community.
4.2
Financial Implications
There has been no financial provision from Natural England (formerly
Countryside Agency) for the implementation of the Core Actions as set out in the
Plan. It is proposed that funding will be obtained through links to LTP2 and from
external bodies.
4.3
Legal Implications
There is a statutory requirement to produce and publish a ROWIP by November
2007. Although the Council have not met the deadline for implementation,
Natural England (the governing body for the production of ROWIP’s) have
acknowledged that the process is being undertaken and a ROWIP will be in
place as soon as possible.
4.4
People Implications
It is possible that there will be staffing implications associated with delivery of the
Core Actions and this will be assessed through the development of the Project
Plan and Methodology.
Draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan
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Report No DETE08109 – Final (Cab)
4.5
Property Implications
None
4.6
Consultation
It is proposed that an article will be placed in OUTLOOK magazine advertising
the consultation period and the draft ROWIP will be made available at the
Contact Centre, public libraries, and on the SBC webpage. The ROWIP will also
be forwarded directly to all consultees and user groups as listed at SBC, Natural
England and neighbouring authorities.
4.7
Equalities Impact Assessment
The ROWIP intends to maintain and improve the PROW network to provide
access for all, as far as is possible.
4.8
Risk Assessment
The Council has sought to minimise and mitigate any risk resulting from the delay
in producing a ROWIP through discussions with Natural England.
4.9
Value for Money
Value for money is implied through the long-term improvements that will be
created within the PROW network.
4.10
Community Safety Implications
None identified
4.11 Environmental Impact
There will be long term environmental benefits created through the improvements
to maintenance of the PROW network and the provision of more accessible
routes.
5.
Background Papers
5.1
None
6.
Appendices
6.1
Appendix 1 – Draft ROWIP
Draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan
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Report No DETE08109 – Final (Cab)