Agenda

To elect a Chair of the Planning, Environment and Sustainability Policy Development Group for the municipal year 2025/2026.

To elect a Vice-Chair of the Planning, Environment and Sustainability Policy Development Group for the municipal year 2025/2026.

To agree a start time of meetings for the remainder of the municipal year.

To receive any apologies for absence and notices of appointment of substitute Members (if any).

To receive any questions from members of the public and replies thereto.

Note:   A maximum of 30 minutes is allowed for this item.

To consider whether to approve the minutes as a correct record of the meeting held on 11 March 2025.

To receive any declarations of interest.

To receive any announcements that the Chair may wish to make.

To receive performance information for the areas falling under the remit of this Policy Development Group for Quarter 4 of 2024/2025.

Mid Devon District Council together with other local authorities has previously authorised the Blackdown Hills National Landscape Partnership to undertake a review of the current Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Management Plan on their behalf, as required under Section IV of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

Public consultation on the reviewed management plan took place in January to March 2025, and now adoption of the Blackdown Hills National Landscape Management Plan by Mid Devon District Council and the other relevant local authorities is required before the management plan is published and is submitted to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

To receive an update from the Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change and the Climate Sustainability Officer.

To receive a Planning Summary Report from the Director of Place and Economy.

To discuss the current Work Plan for the Planning, Environment and Sustainability Policy Development Group.

Members are asked to note that the following items are already identified in the Work Programme for the next meeting although they may need to be confirmed nearer the time:

·         Climate and Sustainability Update

·         Planning Summary Report

·         Performance Dashboard Q1

·         MDDC Draft Budget 2026-27 First Review