Adopted: 063/26, 06.07.2026

Authority

The Accessible Footpaths Working Group is appointed by and solely responsible to St Agnes Parish Council. The Working Group’s duties are defined and agreed by the Full Council who may vote at any time to modify them. The Working Group has no decision-making or spending power delegated to it, but will present recommendations to the Council, or to a Committee of the Council, for discussion and decision. The Working Group may be authorised to deliver a programme of work – including incurring expenditure – upon resolution of the Full Council only.

 

Purpose

The Accessible Footpaths Working Group will support the Council’s stated initiative to make Parish stiles and footpaths more accessible. It will consider, assess and make recommendations regarding the accessibility of public footpaths and stiles within the Parish, with particular regard to elderly residents, less mobile users, parishioners and visitors. The Working Group will develop a strategy of action and financial plan to support future Local Maintenance Partnership, or Enhanced Local Maintenance Partnership grant funding applications, community funding and/or Parish Council budget considerations.

The Working Group will seek to balance accessibility, safety, countryside character, heritage, landowner responsibilities and practical deliverability. It will consider options including, but not limited to, the assessment of stiles and gates, handholds, handrails, appropriate repairs, alternative routes where suitable, signage, reporting mechanisms, and other least-restrictive access improvements where these are lawful, proportionate, financially viable and supported by the relevant landowners and authorities.

The Working Group will utilise evidence, community feedback, volunteer surveys, mapping information, Cornwall Council guidance, Local Maintenance Partnership information and partnership working to support clear, fair and transparent recommendations to the Council.

 

Objectives

  • Survey and evidence gathering: To support a Parish-wide survey of public footpaths and stiles to identify accessibility issues, barriers, potential safety concerns and opportunities for improvement.
  • Accessibility strategy: To develop an evidence-based strategy of action which identifies priorities, timescales, practical options and recommendations for improving accessibility.
  • Financial planning and funding: To identify potential funding opportunities, obtain indicative costs and/or quotations where appropriate, and recommend any required Parish Council budget provision.
  • Community engagement: To invite and support residents, volunteers and community groups to report footpath accessibility issues and participate in structured survey work where appropriate.
  • Landowner and stakeholder engagement: To support constructive engagement with landowners, Cornwall Council, the Local Improvement Committee, relevant community groups, walking groups, land managers and other stakeholders.
  • Fair prioritisation: To ensure that recommendations are based on objective, Parish-wide criteria and are not ward-partisan.
  • Reporting to Council: To provide updates, findings and recommendations to Full Council for consideration and decision.

Method

The Working Group will ensure that its goals and recommendations are S.M.A.R.T:

  • Specific: Well-defined, clear, and unambiguous.
  • Measurable: Supported by survey data, community reports, identified routes, estimated costs and clear criteria.
  • Achievable: Realistic having regard to landowner consent, permissions, funding, officer capacity, volunteer support and contractor availability.
  • Realistic: Within the Council’s remit, relevant to public rights of way accessibility, and proportionate to the Parish setting.
  • Timely: Supported by clear timescales, including target dates for survey completion, strategy preparation, funding deadlines and any recommended delivery phases.

The Working Group will use fair and transparent prioritisation criteria. Criteria may include level of accessibility barrier, likely public benefit, safety, route importance, feasibility, landowner support, cost, funding eligibility, connection to wider walking routes, and deliverability within relevant funding or budget timescales.

 

Membership

Membership will consist of a maximum of five (5) people, with a minimum of two (2) appointed Parish Councillors. Councillor members are established at the Annual Parish Council Meeting and thereafter, if Councillor vacancies arise, by the Full Council. The Working Group may appoint community representatives. The Working Group may invite volunteers, Cornwall Council representatives, landowners, contractors, community groups or other relevant stakeholders to attend meetings or participate in survey work where this would assist the Working Group’s purpose. Attendance by non-members shall be at the discretion of the Working Group.

The Working Group may elect a Chair, who shall be responsible for calling and running meetings and delegating actions with support from Officers and/or Clerk. It has the discretion to elect a Vice Chair.

 

Quorum

Quorum will be three, to include one (1) Parish Councillor.

If the only appointed members are the two required Councillors, the quorum will be both Councillors, who shall work collaboratively to reach unanimous recommendations. In this case, no Chair of the Working Group will be appointed.

 

Frequency of meetings

A minimum of biannual meetings and ad-hoc as required. Where practicable, at least one meeting should take place in advance of annual budget setting and/or relevant grant application deadlines to ensure the Working Group can make timely recommendations to Full Council.

Meetings may take place virtually, physically, or in a hybrid format as regulations and Working Group members dictate.

 

Public Participation

There is no legal right to attend, as this is not a decision-making body of the Council.  Admittance of the public to meetings is at the discretion of Working Group members.

 

Record of meeting

Meeting minutes will be produced and submitted to Full Council at the next available meeting. When tasks are created and delegated, each will have a designated person of responsibility. They will have the duty of reporting on their task progress at each Working Group meeting, either in person or by way of a written report.

 

Review & termination

The Working Group may review its Terms of Reference as required and make recommendations to the Full Council. Only the Full Council may resolve to make changes to the Terms of Reference. The Working Group will terminate by resolution of the Full Council.