To consider any communications to be submitted by the Mayor or the Chief Executive.
Minutes:
(a) Trans Pennine Trail National Office – British Horse Society Access Award
The Chief Executive announced that the Council’s Trans Pennine Trail national office was awarded an Access Award by the British Horse Society for excellent service by an organisation in furtherance of enhanced equestrian access.
She added that the Trans Pennine Trail, better known as the TPT, was the vision of two Barnsley Officers following the Beeching Report, that highlighted the possibility of connecting greenways and canal towpaths with decommissioned railways. She said that from that day to this Barnsley Council had been proud to host the TPT National Office.
The small, but very hard working, team of three worked tirelessly to take every opportunity possible to look at areas where sections could be upgraded or improved for horse riders. She noted that working with 26 Local Authorities was not a small feat and currently there was over 70% of the route that was fully accessible for horse riders, but the team knew there was always more to do.
The team had produced a guidance paper to encourage partners to provide corral facilities wherever space and funds allowed, and a signage paper that had been agreed by all partners to ensure that each individual that could legally use the route was equally represented.
When responding to consultations and planning applications right across the 370 miles of route the team looked at potential upgrades that could be possible to increase the amount of equestrian route available.
The Chief Executive gave thanks for the contributions made by the
team; Mandy Loach, Hannah Beaumont and Robert Drummond.
Councillors Ennis OBE and Higginbottom added their thanks to the team and paid tribute to former Councillor Norbury who was instrumental in the founding of the TPT. Councillor Wilson, as chair of the TPT also added his congratulations and praised the team.
The Deputy Mayor and Mayor added their thanks to the team for their continued hard work.
(b) Members Leadership Programme
The Chief Executive reminded Members that the Leadership Programme had been commissioned and agreed by the Member Development Working Party on the back of the staff leadership programme, which had been run for a number of years by IODA. IODA adapted the programme to ensure that it fitted with the Member role specifically in Barnsley. The programme had commenced in early 2022 and consisted of five modules:- Introduction to Leadership; Leadership within the Council and the Community; Systems Leadership and Stakeholder Management; Persuading, Influencing and Managing Conflict; and Understanding Finance, Budgets, and Planning.
Members were given the option to attend the full five modules, the five modules plus completion of a CMI Level 5 Award in Leadership and Management, or just attend individual modules which were of interest to themselves.
An awful lot of Members had benefited from the programme but three Councillors that successfully completed the programme and passed the full qualification in late 2023. Congratulations were given to Councillor Moyes, Richardson and Webster.
The Mayor then presented each Member with their certificate, and Councillor Howard congratulated all those who had taken part, and added her thanks to the Member Development Team for their hard work to support learning such as this. This was echoed by the Mayor.