Working groups, each usually comprising three or four Forum members, were set up shortly after the its creation in 2002, to deal with specific subject areas, or, with task & finish groups, to deal with single issues, it being clear from the start that to consult the full Forum of 20 people, and to get meaningful responses from them each time would be cumbersome and ineffective.
Constitutionally, only the Forum can advise Cornwall Council (and the other section 94 bodies). Working Groups have a primary function of developing advice and making recommendations for further action to the Forum. In cases requiring urgent advice, where given direct to the consulting body, such advice is to be subject to report to and confirmation by the Forum.
Coastal Access WG
Terms of reference: To consider issues which could provide improved coastal access in Cornwall and which could provide improved links to the coast and resulting circular walks based on the coast; and in conjunction with the Countryside Accessibility Working Group to consider the improved provision on the coast for those with limited mobility. (Approved by forum 25.01.22)
Current Status: Recently completed long term consultation with NE on “England” Coast Path provision in Cornwall, largely fruitful, although a number of recommendations remain unfulfilled.
Potential programme: See SC’s Report to CCAF of 25.01.22. Proposal from WG to investigate and report on potential circular walks linked to SWCP; to advise NE on SWCP route improvements; and to consider and make recommendations for accessibility improvements to SWCP in conjunction with Accessibility WG.
Terms of reference: To develop responses to consultation requests from Section 94 and other bodies on matters pertinent to the Forum’s remit, particularly where time is of the essence, and there is no established working group with appropriate interest or experience.
The Chair needs is able to co-opt members with appropriate knowledge and/or interests.
Current Status: Recently completed report to CC Transport & Infrastructure on Local Transport plan review 2022.
Potential programme: Similar consultation requests when they arise.
Terms of reference: To develop advice and make recommendations for further action to the Forum
on ways of improving access to moorland areas and Open Access land in Cornwall and to liaise with relevant landowners and their representative bodies in order to avert conflict or misunderstanding when promoting access for the public.
Current Status: Has not functioned effectively in recent past, although the group made useful recommendations to CC on a long running open access and moorland grazing & enclosure dispute over the St Just Commons; and sought to assist the Caradon Hill project in improving access to parts of Bodmin Moor (with little success).
Potential programme: To make recommendations for inclusion in the Countryside Access Strategy & RoWIP (shortly to be reviewed) * for a County Council policy for Open Access.
Parish Council Liaison WG (formerly Developing Parish Initiatives WG).
Terms of reference: To develop advice and make recommendations for further action to the Forum on ways in which the Local Maintenance Partnership (LMP) and other local (parish) based initiatives can be encouraged, enhanced and more fully understood; also to encourage the development of volunteer-led programmes to support the improvement of local rights of way and open spaces; and to advise Cornwall Council how best to partner with Local Councils to progress the Cornwall Transport Plan as it affects PRoW and access to open spaces in the countryside.
Current Status: The WG has carried out effective promotion of the LMP to a number of parish councils, which has entailed visits to them.
Potential programme: Should include advising/enthusing parish councils to use volunteers both as F.P. wardens and maintenance/improvement voluntary labour. (May require negotiation with Council particularly to promote and codify the use of voluntary labour, which is quite ad hoc at present, possibly restricted by regulation/bureaucracy)
Terms of reference: In consultation with Cornwall Council and other statutory consultees (Department of Transport, Highways England etc), to develop advice and make recommendations for further action to the Forum to encourage the formulation of a Strategic Trails Plan for Cornwall with the aim of establishing a network of continuous, long-distance multi-use trails, preferably linking to similar trails across the Tamar. To advise Cornwall Council on major highways and development projects on matters of non-motorised access, particularly network connectivity, and compliance with relevant transport and planning policies. Also to monitor and advise the Council on access design issues in major projects; and to advise the Council on management and maintenance of existing multi-use trails.
Current Status: The MUT WG effectively includes the following task and finish groups, the current status of which is as follows:
A30 Carland Cross to Chiverton road improvement T & FG: Advisory role in making recommendations to Highways England during the planning phase to ensure connectivity across and along the line of the A30 dualling in which the Forum was both effective and successful. It remains for the group to monitor outcomes in which liaison with HE will be necessary.
Saints Trails T & FG (originally A30 Designated Funds T&FG): Advisory role during initial planning stages of project, interrupted by Covid restrictions and by breakdown in communications with Council officers responsible. Attempts to obtain update continue.
A30 St Austell link T&FG: Again, a largely effective and successful role in advising the Council on connectivity issues in the design of tis road improvement, which we are informed is awaiting final approval.
Th group has also been involved in a similar role in connection with the Truro Northern Access Road scheme, particularly cycling issues. No response since May 2020. Group needs to be updated.
Potential programme: Firstly, to obtain updated information on ongoing schemes; secondly, to contribute to the Countryside Access Review on trail development strategy; and thirdly, to consult on similar proposals when mooted.
Rights of way and definitive map WG.
Terms of reference: ) To develop advice and make recommendations for further action to the Forum on matters relevant to both public rights of way (PRoW) recorded in the definitive map and statement, and other unrecorded public rights, particularly in light of the 01.01.2026 registration cut-off date, including advice on ensuring that Definitive Map Modification Orders (DMMO) are recorded and processed in the most expedient fashion To support the Countryside Access Team in its work, and particularly to provide advice on requisite staffing levels.
Current Status: Group has been effectively inoperative for last two years due to lack of members.
Potential programme: the Council will shortly be seeking advice on two areas; on prioritisation of DMMOs, in the light of, and as and when, the Regulations being promulgated under the Deregulation Act, 2015, come into force; and on prioritisation of enforcement action, giving the limited staff available.
Terms of reference: To develop advice and make recommendations for further action to the Forum on ways of ensuring that persons with limited mobility are – where viable – not hindered in their access to and use of Public Rights of Way (PRoW) and other recreational facilities in Cornwall. Also to develop advice and make recommendations for further action to the Forum to encourage local councils to consider developing new infrastructure and multi-use trails that will provide recreational opportunities for those with limited mobility, as well as other users; and to encourage improvement to existing facilities.
Current Status: The group did not meet over Covid. The chairman continued working with Cornwall Council, mainly Don Martin. He was asked to create a list of quick fixes and some longer ones, which he did. Two site visits were made and there have been several Teams meetings. Several of the original items on the list have been scheduled or completed. And a new accessible path between Swanpool and Meanporth has been announced. No definitive list is available.
Potential programme: The group is to resume in March. Don Martin has been invited to bring them up to date. Two members of CRR have also been invited. Mr Martin has asked for a 2nd list of items to be addressed in the coming year, the group will do this and continue to liaise with the council regarding new and existing items.
Terms of reference: Members please draft.
Current Status: ditto
Potential programme: ditto
Task & Finish groups with finite usefulness
Terms of reference: To develop advice and make recommendations for further action to enable the Forum to scrutinise development proposals to ensure adequate provision is made for NMU users, to ensure connectivity with the existing network, and, a far as possible, to ensure that existing and longstanding PRoW. obstructions are dealt with.
Current Status: Contact broken with Planning officer responsible.
Potential programme: To re-establish contact, and to review progress with scheme.
Countryside Access Strategy & RoWIP T&FG*
Terms of reference: To develop advice and make recommendations for further action to the Forum on Cornwall Council’s Review of the Countryside Access Strategy (overdue since 2017) and on the formulation of a new, comprehensive and fully-inclusive Rights of Way Improvement Plan (RoWIP) for Cornwall. Also to develop advice and make recommendations for further action to the Forum on a methodology for monitoring progress towards achievement of the action points set out in the RoWIP and to suggest further actions as appropriate.
Current Status: The group has been inactive since 2019, firstly due to the staff involved leaving the Council, and then due to Covid restrictions etc. The then extant draft was heavily criticised as being over-long and rambling.
Potential programme: The Council is currently restarting drafting with two dedicated members of staff, and the reviewed Plan is due to go to Committee mid-2022, prior to which the group needs to get involved without delay.
St Austell China Clay Mineral Permission Review T&FG
Terms of reference: To develop advice and make recommendations for further action to enable the Cornwall Countryside Access Forum to examine and report on the St Austell China Clay Mineral Permission Review of June 2018.
Current Status: The Forum’s advice was duly sent under the chair’s signature on 24.08.18. However, the group’s examination revealed a large number of r.o.w. obstructions and similar problems within the China Clay Area, which had not been dealt with, but strictly speaking, were peripheral to the planning review. Attempts during 2018/19 to engage with Imerys & the Planning Officers were marginally useful, but largely ineffective. These “hangover” issues remain to be dealt with.
Potential programme: Some at least of the outstanding obstructions and unauthorised diversions of r.o.w. are likely to be resolved coincidentally by the A 30 – St Austell Link Road improvement scheme, and by the Carclaze Village project. It will take determination on the part of Council Officers to resolve these outstanding issues. It has to be recognised that the china clay industry has at the in recent years established a network of “Clay Trails”, albeit by use of permissive paths, and it is possible that within the context of these resolution might be sought. There is a potential role for the Forum in this.
Membership of Working groups
Coastal Access WG
Steve Church, Nick Jeans,
Consultation Response WG
Chairman + 3 members (as appropriate to subject matter of consultation & available at short notice).
Moorland and open access WG
Martin Howlett,
Parish Council Liaison WG (formerly Developing Parish Initiatives WG).
Phil Allen, Shelley Barratt, Matt Luke
Multi-use trails WG.
Nick Jeans, Steve Church, Phil Allen, Steve Wilson, Carol Wilson.
Rights of way and definitive map WG.
Victorian Burton-Davey, Shelley Barratt
Accessibility WG.
Steve Wilson, Steve Church,
Health & Wellbeing WG.
Victoria Burton-Davey, Phil Allen, Carol Wilson
Carclaze Garden Village T&FG
Nick Jeans, Matt Luke
Countryside Access Strategy & RoWIP T&FG
Chairman + representatives from MUTWG, CAWG, AWG, etc.
St Austell China Clay Mineral Permission Review T&FG
Nick Jeans, Matt Luke
Arrangements for meetings
WG meetings are generally called in response to a specific request for advice etc., although it is often appropriate for the WG to take the initiative to involve itself in matters within its ambit.
It is up to WG members to elect/confirm one of their number as Chair.
The Council pays approved expenses to Forum members serving on WGs (but not to any co-opted third parties).
We usually rely on the initiative of the WG Chair to call members for meetings, and to arrange the meeting place.
Subject to overcoming current availability/admin problems (members of the public are not admitted to NCH except to meet officers of the Council), small meeting rooms or tables in the open plan upper ground floor area are usually available at NCH, subject to prior booking.
Currently, it requires an officer’s nominal presence – booking requests should be directed to Mike Eastwood in the first instance.Mike Eastwood is generally willing to attend WG meetings where appropriate.