Issue - meetings

To consider a report seeking approval for a revised “statement of priorities” for dealing with a potentially large volume of Definitive Map Modification Order applications and matters requiring detailed investigations.

The Committee considered a report seeking approval for a revised “statement of priorities” for dealing with a potentially large volume of Definitive Map Modification Order applications and matters requiring detailed investigations.

The Council as Surveying Authority for the Definitive Map and Statement had a duty to keep it under continuous review and make modifications as required.  It was recommended that Surveying Authorities should periodically publish a statement of priorities for dealing with Definitive Map Modification Orders.  The former Cheshire County Council Rights of Way Committee had approved interim statements of priorities in 2000, 2004 and most recently in January 2006.

The workload of the Legal Orders Team had increased in recent years due to national initiatives, such as the Rights of Way Improvement Plan, and local pressures such as the need for the completion of a consolidated Definitive Map and Statement.  The current system of prioritisation was complex in that it attempted to combine a chronological approach with other qualitative criteria and as a result was difficult to apply and had never been fully implemented.  A revised system of priorities was therefore proposed to permit a systematic but flexible approach to dealing with a large volume of DMMO applications and matters requiring detailed investigation.

Members endorsed the revised system of priorities, as detailed in Appendix 2 to the Report, and requested an interim report be brought to Committee in six months outlining how the revised system was working. A further report should be carried out and brought to Committee in twelve months time reviewing the revised system.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)       the revised Statement of Priorities , as outlined in Appendix 2, be approved.

(2)       further reports be brought in six and twelve months on the revised Statement of Priorities.