Issue - meetings

Purpose: to seek approval for adoption of the new North Wessex Downs National Landscape Management Plan 2025-30 for this National Landscape legally referred to as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Resolved that Executive approve the adoption of the North Wessex Downs National Landscape Management Plan.

This decision is eligible to be ‘called-in’.  However, if the decision has not been ‘called-in’ by 5.00pm on 20 November 2025, then it will be implemented.

Councillor Denise Gaines introduced and proposed a report (Agenda Item 3), which sought approval for adoption of the new North Wessex Downs National Landscape Management Plan 2025-30 for the National Landscape legally referred to as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Councillor Tony Vickers, Vice Chairman of North Wessex Downs AONB Council of Partners Board, thanked the Leader for allowing him to speak and praised the work of the eleven-person North Wessex Downs National Landscape team. He also highlighted the strong volunteer resource that were vital to the work of the team.

Councillor Vickers suggested it was not a realistic option not to adopt the Management Plan, as there was a legal duty to seek to conserve and enhance the North Wessex Downs.

Councillor Vickers referred to the Protected Landscape Targets and to Target 7 which aimed to restore peat and heathland, and noted that whilst work would be undertaken the specific target had not been referenced within the Management Plan due to the very small size of relevant land within the North Wessex Downs.

Councillor Vickers noted that he had made a pledge that morning on behalf of West Berkshire Council to work collaboratively in the partnership with other decision makers on the Board. 

Councillor Vickers noted that if the Management Plan was approved, the North Wessex Downs would become the first area in the United Kingdom to achieve IUCN green list status.

Members collectively supported approval of the Management Plan and Councillor Heather Codling thanked Councillor Vickers for all the work undertaken in his role on the Council of Partners Board.

Councillor Nigel Foot seconded the recommendation within the report and reminded Members of the previous week’s decision to approve the Public Rights of Way Improvement Plan, noting that it was now possible to quantify in monetary terms the benefit of green spaces. Councillor Foot commented that there was a £27.1 million per annum benefit to the residents and visitors of West Berkshire which equated to 8.5 million visits per annum. Councillor Foot noted how important this was, particularly in relation to the health and wellbeing benefits.

Councillor Foot further praised and thanked the work of Councillor Vickers, all volunteers and the Public Rights of Way and Countryside officers.  

Councillor Gaines expressed disappointment that Councillor Vickers did not feel that the Council already worked collaboratively with partners but thanked him for all his work on the Council of Partners and praised the Management Plan as an excellent document. 

RESOLVED that: Executive approve the adoption of the North Wessex Downs National Landscape Management Plan.