Breadcrumbs
Agenda for the 24th Meeting of the Countryside Agency
1. Apologies for absence
2. Chairman to sign minutes of the meeting held on 18 October 2001
3. MATTERS ARISING REPORT 15 NOVEMBER MEETING
This paper updates the Board on action taken as a result of decisions from previous Board meetings and progress made on those issues.4. South West Coast Path: review of the National Trail in South Devon (AP01/43)
The Secretary of State for the Environment has asked the Countryside Agency for advice on a request to realign the South West Coast Path National Trail between Strete Gate and Warren Point. The Agency commissioned a review which resulted in a report in July 2001 and then undertook an informal consultation which was completed on 7 September. The Agency now needs to advise the Secretary of State of its intended course of action. In the light of the review (of which Board members received the full report or summaries in July) and the consultation (which is summarised in the paper) the Board are invited to agree that the re-routing proposed would provide the right balance between the interests of individual property owners and the greater public good. Members are asked to authorise officers to undertake work to define the best precise line for the route which would then be approved by the Chairman before submitting to the Secretary of State.
5. Regional governance (AP01/44)
The paper recognises the need for the Agency to engage with the new regional tier of government in order to ensure that regional structures take full account of the needs of rural areas. This regional role also serves to influence our own thinking and development of national initiatives. The paper sets out a framework for regional influencing and an enhanced role for Agency Board members. The Board are also asked to agree that the Agency should focus its efforts on ensuring a rural dimension to policies which affect rural areas rather than on the merits of different mechanisms for regional government.6. NATIONAL PARK POLICY REVIEW (AP01/45)
The Countryside Agency has a responsibility under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949, to advise the Government on the administration of National Parks and any action needed to secure national park purposes. This paper seeks Board approval for the Agency's formal response to DEFRA's Review of National Park Authorities. It reflects the views of Board members made at the Board meeting and seminar held on 18 October. The paper also suggests that officers engage in further discussions with DEFRA to explain and progress the Board's recommendations.
7. Aggregates levy sustainability fund (AP01/46)
From April 2002 there will be an aggregates levy to address the environmental costs of aggregates extraction. This will provide £29.3 million a year which the Government proposes to disburse through existing grant distribution bodies and programmes, including the Countryside Agency. In October the Government issued a national consultation document on how it proposes to operate the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund, with a request for responses by 27 November. A detailed Agency response is currently being prepared on the basis of consultation across the organisation and with advice from the relevant Board team. The paper seeks Board approval to support the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund and for the Agency to become one of the bodies which will offer grants.8. Corporate Plan progress - Half Year Report (AP01/47)
The Corporate Plan is the contract between the Secretary of State, the Agency Board and the executive body of staff whose job it is to implement it. The paper presents the half year report which identifies progress made so far, problems which need to be addressed and further opportunities to meet the strategy aims. The Executive seek the Board's advice on whether they have achieved the right balance of risk in delivering the Corporate Plan outcomes whilst responding to the need to help the countryside recover from foot and mouth disease.ITEMS FOR INFORMATION
9. LAND USE PLANNING GREEN PAPER (AP01/48)
The target in the Corporate Plan is to secure adoption of the Agency's published planning policy Planning Tomorrow's Countryside by central and local government. This paper advises Board members about the early input the Agency has made to the forthcoming planning green paper and the intention to continue to influence the Government during the consultation period.
10. Date and location of next meeting
The next meeting of the Countryside Agency will take place on Thursday 13 December 2001, Dacre House, London.