Breadcrumbs
Agenda for the 29th Meeting of the Countryside Agency
1. Apologies for Absence
2. Chairman to sign minutes of meeting held 16 May 2002
3. MATTERS ARISING REPORT 16 MAY 2002 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. taxation measures for the pre-budget submission AP02/19
Fiscal changes could play a significant role in meeting the Agency's aims for the countryside and rural areas by benefiting rural businesses, rural communities and the countryside environment by providing incentives, as well as disincentives, and could help change behaviours. This paper asks for the Board's endorsement on a shortlist of potential tax changes to be recommended in the Agency's pre-Budget submission in September 2002. The shortlist includes Business Rate Relief; Reduced VAT (5%) for repair and maintenance to community buildings; Agricultural Property Inheritance Tax; and Tax Relief on cost of habitat/environment and access improvement. Board members are invited to agree potential tax changes or measures to be included in next year's (2003) submission.
5. ADVICE TO GOVERNMENT ABOUT COUNCIL TAX ABOUT SECOND HOMES AP02/20
In the light of Countryside Agency research this paper asks the Board to agree further advice to Government on proposals to mitigate the negative impact of second home ownership in the countryside by including measures to allow local authorities to remove Council Tax discount on second homes and retain proceeds locally to address housing related needs.
6. defra review of ENGLISH national parks - POLICY governance and funding AP02/21
After the consultation exercise on the Review an Advisory Panel, with Agency representation have met to consider responses and formulate recommendations. Board members are recommended to approve a new programme of Agency activity to deliver Review outputs and to agree a further submission to DEFRA focusing on those matters raised in the Agency's Review submission that have not been given effect in the final report.7. AP02/22) response to government's regions white paper: 'your region your choice' AP02/22
The Board have previously considered the issue of regional governance and agreed to adopt a consistent approach to all its regional influencing work. It also agreed that in relation to regional governance the Agency focus its efforts on rural proofing policy development process rather than structural issues. Board members are recommended to agree that the Agency support proposals for elected regional assemblies, and to respond to the White Paper drawing attention to the rural dimension of the proposals, including: knock-on effects on shire local government structures, interpretation of referendum results in shire areas and the contributions the Agency could make in advising regional assemblies on rural policy issues.
8. Approving Priorities for the Corporate Plan 2003/04 (Closed Session)
Prioritising choices for future Agency activity and inclusion in the draft Corporate Plan 2003/04 .9. Date and Location of next meeting
The next meeting of the Countryside Agency will be on 17 September 2002, Slaley Hall, Hexham.
