Decision details

The Cabinet Member considered a report on the continuation of the Cheshire and Warrington Local Access Forum and the appointment of an elected Member to represent Cheshire East Council.

The Local Access Forum was a non-executive body whose role was to advise member authorities and Natural England on the improvement of public access to, and enjoyment of, land for open air recreation. 

A joint Forum had the capacity to build on relationships it had developed with Cheshire and Warrington and would enable it to have an influencing “voice” at regional and national level. It also had the benefit of minimising costs whilst maintaining a large enough population to attract good quality candidates for membership of the Forum. Failure to establish a joint Forum would require the Council to set up its own Forum with a consequent increase in costs.

RESOLVED

That

(1)   Cheshire East Council enter into a Joint Local Access Forum with Cheshire West and Chester Council and Warrington Borough Council (subject to the Executive decision of Warrington Borough Council on 20 July 2009); and

(2)   Councillor Rachel Bailey be appointed to the Cheshire and Warrington Local Access Forum as the elected Member representing Cheshire East Council.