LAFs
From GPG
DEFRA is about to issue new guidance on the work of Local Access Forums. It is intended to be primarily for forum members but will also be relevant to forum secretaries, appointing authorities and to the bodies which receive advice from forums.
The Guidance will set out how the Secretary of State expects forums to contribute (through the provision of advice) to official decision-making in relation to open air recreation, access to land, and use of public rights of way.When the guidance is released it will be available from this page.
There are significant advantages in fully engaging the authority's LAF at every stage of the ROWIP process. But the LAF will not only need to be fully briefed and taken into the authority's confidence but also given the training they need to fully realise this potential. This includes help in understanding the concepts underlying the ROWIP and in developing the skill of thinking strategically. It is also important to agree the LAF's role with them, and that this builds on the strengths and abilities of the group.
Advice on involving the LAF is contained in the LAFs & ROWIPs signposting guide.
Information about LAFs in England can be found on the Countryside Agency's website.
Information on LAFs in Wales can be found on CCW's website
Hampshire County Council
Hampshire County Council have taken a very positive approach to involving their LAF in the ROWIP process. Hampshire gave an initial presentation before encouraging the LAF to debate and agree exactly what its role should be. It also held workshops with the LAF to debate key issues, presented the findings of the research studies as they emerged to the group and has agreed a specific role for the LAF in helping to subsequently implement each area Countryside Access Plans plan. Sub-groups of the LAF have been set up for this purpose, mirroring the area covered by each plan. However, while the authority also reported the final consultation responses that were received on each of the plans to the LAF, this was primarily for information only. They did not ask the LAF to take a role in resolving any of the objections.
Hampshire Countryside Access Forum has been closely involved in the pilot Plans, providing advice on strategic matters and process as well as contributing directly to the Plans. The Local Access Forum for Hampshire, Southampton and Portsmouth consists of 18 local members of the public with an interest in countryside access. Membership is balanced between those who use the countryside for recreation and those who manage that land; other interests, such as tourism and conservation, are also included. The Forum's aim is to improve and promote opportunities to enjoy Hampshire's countryside and coast for a wide range of people while addressing the concerns of farmers, landowners and other land managers. The Forum will continue to provide strategic advice and to participate in the monitoring and implementation of the Plans.
Hampshire Countryside Access Forum will be assisting in delivery of some actions identified in the Countryside Access Plans. Initially, the Forum will be holding a meeting of stakeholders to discuss the Forest of Bere Countryside Access Plan, to provide more detail for some of the issues and identify potential partners to take the work forward. More details are given in the report Evaluation of pilot Rights of Way Improvement Plans in Hampshire and proposals for preparing plans in the rest of the county available on Hampshire's website.
Lincolnshire County Council
Lincolnshire County Council are working closely with the Local Access Forums during the preparation of the county's ROWIP. In December 2005 they contracted Stephen Jenkinson to run a Rights of Way Improvement Plan workshop for Local Access Forums.
The aims of the workshop were to:
- Increase the understanding of the ROWIP and what it means to LAF members
- Provide an opportunity to review the findings of the ROWIP research and for LAF members to tell us what is important to them
- Draw together common themes, to develop ideas and priorities for action
- Strengthen links with LAF members from neighbouring authority areas
Forum members discussed the findings of the ROWIP research and used the information to identify themes for the ROWIP. They then discussed what actions the authority could take under each theme.
The full report is available.
Last revised October 2006
