Breadcrumbs
Agenda for the 26th Meeting of the Countryside Agency
1. Apologies for Absence
2. Chairman to sign minutes of meeting held 13 December 2002
3. MATTERS ARISING REPORT 14 DECEMBER 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. Mid Term Review of Agenda 2000 (AP02/01)
This paper seeks to clarify the scope and terminology
surrounding the mid term review of Agenda
2000 this
year. The Board is invited to note
the scope and opportunities presented by the review, to agree that
working through the Land Use Policy Group at the UK is the best
means to secure CAP reform as the Agency wants it, and to confirm
the main goals for CAP reform are compulsory modulation across the
EU, more flexible rules on what funds can be used for, further reform of commodity support, environmental cross
compliance, and a bigger slice of the EU pt for
rural development and agri-environment.
5. Mid Term Evaluation of the England Rural Development Programme (AP02/02)
This paper sets out the scope and opportunities presented by
the 2003 mid term evaluation of the ERDP. The Board
is invited to approve the Agency's main aspiration
for change as an increase of the rate of modulation from 3.5%
to 10% in 2004, and that the Agency should seek to
influence the mid term review of the ERDP principally through close
liaison with DEFRA ministers and officials, and the
Land Use Policy Group.
6. Foot and mouth disease: lessons to be learned (AP02/03)
Dr Iain Anderson is chairing the Government inquiry into
'Lessons Learned' from the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak last
year. The Board has asked for views to be submitted by 15 March
2002. This paper asks the Board to agree the Countryside Agency's view of the five main lessons to be
learned from the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak,
and that these should be conveyed to Dr Anderson's inquiry.
7. Planning green paper: AN AGENCY RESPONSE (AP02/04)
The Government published its Green Paper 'Planning:
delivering a fundamental change' in December 2001 and has invited
the comments of the Agency. The Board is invited to
agree that the Agency should respond to the Green Paper
by offering broad support for the proposals,
especially the clear focus on longer term vision, proper links with
spending plans, and to confirm that the Agency should seek greater clarity about strategic planning, and continuing
pressure for quality in development.
8. Procedures for major infrastructure projects (AP02/05)
The Government has published a consultation paper ' Major
infrastructure projects: delivering a fundamental
change' to accompany the Planning
Green Paper. The Board is invited
to agree that the Agency should respond to the consultation by
supporting the broad thrust of the Government's proposals, subject
to reassurances given in the paper about consultation on national
policy and community involvement in individual cases, and by
accepting the proposal that Parliament should decide the need for
major infrastructure projects, provided that the location could
still be examined at the public inquiry and subsequently decided by the Secretary of State.
9. Reforming planning obligations (AP02/06)
The Government has published a consultation paper 'Reforming
Planning Obligations', alongside the Planning Green
Paper. The Board is invited to agree that the Agency
should respond to the consultation by broadly welcoming
the proposals to reform planning obligations to
become a position planning tool to aid sustainable
development, and to advise against the introduction of standardised tariffs.
10. response to consultation on proposed changes to council tax charges on second homes (AP02/07)
The Government has published for consultation proposals for
changes to council tax for second homes and long term empty
properties; responses are sought by 15 February 2002. The Board is
invited to agree that the Agency's response to the consultation
should recommend that local authorities should have the discretion
to charge up to 100% council tax on second homes and long term
empty properties, the local authority should be allowed to retain
the additional revenue raised to support the provision of
affordable housing in the district, and a final government decision should await the results of the Agency's
current research on second homes in rural
areas.
11. corporate Plan Progress - Third Quarter Report (AP02/08)
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 third
quarter report which identifies progress made so far, and
the Board are invited to note in particular the
successful promotion of rural recovery through the
Wider Welcome and Countryside Capital programmes
following Lord Haskins' report on foot and mouth
recovery in Cumbria, and the forecast full spend on
programme and running cost budgets.
12. the countryside trust - appointment of new trustee (AP02/09)
The Board is invited to approve the appointment of a new
Trustee, Martin Davis, to the Board of the Countryside Trust, when
one of the current trustees retires
in March.
13. Rural Proofing Annual Report (closed session) (AP02/10)
The Rural White Paper made a commitment that central
Government policy making would be rural proofed, taking account of
its particular rural needs and circumstances. The Rural White Paper
requires the Agency to monitor rural proofing activity in
Government and report its findings annually to the Cabinet
Sub-Committee Rural Renewal. The report will also be published. The
Board is invited to endorse the emerging draft report, and endorse
the emerging conclusions and recommendations made in the
report.
ITEM FOR INFORMATION
14. Date and Location of next meeting
The next meeting of the Countryside Agency will be on 18 April 2002, John Dower House, Cheltenham.
