Purpose

This report seeks approval to accept a number
of confirmed and indicative funding awards, allocations and bids
from National Grid, Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs (Defra), Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales for
the future management and duties of the Wye Valley National
Landscape, formerly known as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
(AONB).

Decision

That:
 
a) The council accepts the National Grid
Landscape Enhancement Initiative (LEI) project grants for 2025-2031
as detailed below, and to deliver the projects as set out in this
report across Llangarron; Ross East;
Ross West & Kerne Bridge Wards in the Wye Valley National
Landscape:-
a. the ‘Magnificent Meadows, Tremendous
Trees and Wonderful Wetlands’ award of £296,426
b. the ‘Marstow and Pencraig
Landscape Connections’ award for £248,722
c. The ‘Whitchurch to Howle Hill
Landscape Enhancements’ award for £246,769
 
b) The council accepts the anticipated funding
offer(s) from DEFRA for 2025-26 and 2026-27 for a total of up to
£1,663,710 as detailed below, to deliver the work programme
agreed by the Joint Advisory Committee (JAC) as outlined in this
report across the Herefordshire part and other counties in the Wye
Valley National Landscape, ;
a. Wye Valley National Landscape Core funding
of up to £303,710 (£151,855pa)
b. Access for All funding allocation of up to
£240,000 (£120,000pa)
c. Additional Core Capital funding of up to
£320,000 (£160,000pa).
d. Farming in Protected Landscape
(FiPL) allocation of up to
£800,000 (£400,000pa)
 
c) The council accepts the funding offer(s)
from Welsh Government for the 2025-27 for a total of up to
£988,000, as detailed below, to deliver the work programme
agreed by the Joint Advisory Committee (JAC) as outlined in this
report across the Monmouthshire part of Wye Valley National
Landscape;
a. Core Revenue funding of £103,000
(£51,500pa)
b. Sustainable Development Fund (SDF)
allocation of £190,000 (£95,000pa)
c. Sustainable Landscape Sustainable Places
(SLSP) allocation of up to £234,000 (£117,000pa)
d. General Capital Funding of £156,000
(£78,000pa)
e. Ffermio Bro
funding of up to £305,000 (£120,000 in 2025/6 &
£185,000 in 2026/7).
 
d) The council accepts the funding offer from
Natural Resources Wales for 2025-2027 for a total of £98,000
(£49,000pa) Strategic Allocated Funding (SAF) to deliver the
projects as set out in this report across the Monmouthshire part of
Wye Valley National Landscape.
 
e) The council accepts the funding bid to the
Environment Agency for a total of £45,000 in 2025-2026 from
the Water Environment Improvement Fund (WEIF) to complement
delivery of the National Grid Landscape Enhancement Initiative
(LEI) project as set out in this report.
 
f) The council continues to support the Wye
Valley National Landscape through a Memorandum of Understanding
with the other constituent local authorities, namely Forest of Dean
District Council, Gloucestershire County Council and Monmouthshire
County Council. OFFICIAL
 
g) The council delegates the review and
preparation of the next Wye Valley National Landscape Management
Plan to the Wye Valley National Landscape Team.
 
h) The council accepts any additional funding,
or variations in the above funding, in seeking to further the
purpose of the National Landscape designation in 2025-6 and
2026-7.
 
i) The Chief
Operating Officer (Resident Services) is authorised to take all
operational decisions necessary to implement the schemes.

Alternative options considered

1.    
Not to accept the grant funding- this is not recommended as the
council is the accountable body for the Wye Valley National
Landscape, has statutory responsibly to seek to further the purpose
of conserving and enhancing the area of outstanding natural beauty,
and will otherwise need to allocate revenue and capital funding to
meet these duties.
 

2.    
Part accept the grant
funding[1]
 
a. Core funding - This is not
recommended at this time as the core
funding allocations are required to maintain the existing services
and contribute to deliver the council’s duties to further the
conservation and enhancement of the area of outstanding natural
beauty.
b. Project funding – this
is not recommended as this would result in a significant loss of
investment in the National Landscape and is not in line with either
the Council’s strong Climate and Ecological emergency
commitments or the delivery of the joint statutory National
Landscape Management Plan.