Issue - meetings

Report of the Executive Director

The Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director which provided details of the draft Sefton Coast Plan which had been prepared by Sefton Council on behalf of and with the participation and input of the Sefton Coast Landscape Partnership, which comprised of Sefton Council, Natural England, the National Trust, the RSPB, the Mersey Forest, and Lancashire Wildlife Trust. The Plan sets out by theme, the challenges for delivery, and the determination of priorities for action across a broad range of partners and communities, seascapes and landscapes. It takes an integrated approach to the management of the coast as many of the issues need to be addressed at a coastal scale, or on a thematic basis.

Sefton Council had led a visioning exercise for the communities of Sefton to imagine the Borough they wished to live and work in - Sefton Vision 2030. The coast was identified as an important asset to be valued and cared for and the Sefton Coast Plan sets a course to deliver to the same time frame as Vision 2030, which was a life-span of 15 years from publication.

The Executive Director reported that the Sefton Coast Landscape Partnership had welcomed the content of draft Plan at a meeting held on 6 January 2017 but they had indicated that they wished to hold a further meeting in the near future to consider the draft plan in more detail before they formally approve the draft Plan and consequently she requested that the Cabinet Member – Locality Services be granted delegated authority to give final approval for the plan to be approved for the purposes of public consultation.

Decision Made:

That the comments made by the Sefton Coast Landscape Partnership Board on 6 January 2016 be welcomed and that the Cabinet Member – Locality Services be granted delegated authority to give final approval for the draft Plan to be approved for the purposes of public consultation. The results of the consultation to be reported back to Cabinet with any suggested amendments presented in the context of a final draft version of the Sefton Coast Plan.

Reasons for Decision:

The development of the Sefton Coast Plan is a requirement of the Local Plan and will also support the aspirations developed as a result of the Sefton Vision 2030.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.