Issue - meetings

John White to report on the items discussed at the meeting of the North West Regional Chairs’ meeting

The Chair fed back from a meeting of the North West Regional Chairs in October.  The main topics which had been discussed included:

• status of national England Access Forum
• Regional training plan and funding for training
• Merger of Cumbria and Lake District Access Forums
• Lack of resources for rights of way in some North West Local Authorities

The Chief Executive of Natural England had issued a letter which gave an update on the progress of transferring delivery of their access and engagement and related work.  Natural England was seeking opportunities to transfer assets which currently supported the delivery of their public engagement work relating to:-

• National Nature Reserves
• One Million Children Outdoors Programme
• Walking for Health
• Volunteering
• Statutory access work and provision of new access