Breadcrumbs
Agenda for the 34th Meeting of the Countryside Agency
1. Apologies for absence
2. Chairman to sign minutes of meeting held 20 February 2002
This paper updates the Board on action taken as a result of decisions from previous Board meetings and progress made on those issues.
4. Forest of Dean Integrated Rural Development Pilot Programme (AP03/06)
In November 1999 the Board considered the background to a request to give the Forest of Dean ‘special status’. At the time the Board decided that the complex regeneration issues in the forest demanded a different approach than designation. A pilot Integrated Rural Development (IRD) programme explored how this might happen. The Board is asked to decide whether to continue the IRD until March 2005, and to determine whether the decision on designation should be postponed to allow for further community engagement of the IRD model as a way of delivering ‘special status’ for he Forest of Dean.
5. Key Corporate Messages for 2003/04 (AP03/08)
In December 2002 the Board considered the findings of target audience research by Opinion Leader Research which emphasised the need for clarity about who the Agency is and what it does. The Board is asked to note the corporate messages for the Agency as a whole, and within its six areas of activity to underpin communications in 2003/04, as defined in the strategy document.
6. Future Management of National Trails (AP03/09)
The Board agreed in November 2001 to proceed to a second stage of establishing a national trails trust to include a consultation process with partners and investigations into the implications of such establishment. This paper asks for the Board’s approval on continuing to actively pursue the establishment of a trust in consultation with partners; to approve commissioning and completing necessary legal steps with the Charity Commission to enable the Trust to become operational by April 2005; and to agree that no decision is taken yet about whether the Trust might assume full management responsibility for the National Trails Network.
7. Countryside Agency Contribution to Sustainable Development (AP03/10)
The Board is asked to note that the Agency is working to ensure the full integration of sustainable development principles within Agency work programmes, is developing a monitoring and reporting process and a programme of awareness raising amongst staff.
8. Open Access Legislation: Restrictions Guidance (AP03/11)
Regional commencement of new legal rights of public access for open-air recreation over “access land” is due to begin from summer 2004. In order to honour the Ministerial commitment to provide time for necessary restrictions to be put in place ahead of commencement the Agency needs to finalise guidance to local authorities for submission to the Secretary of State this year. The Board is asked to agree proposals for issuing guidance on restrictions, and to mandate the Deputy Chair and one other Board member to make strategic input and sign the guidance off on behalf of the Agency.
9. Haskins’ Review (AP03/07)
(Closed session. Paper to follow)
10. Access Mapping (AP03/12)
(Closed session. Paper to follow)
11. Draft Rural Proofing Annual Report (AP03/13)
(Closed session)
In February the Board agreed the structure and tone of the Countryside Agency’s 2002/03 annual report on rural proofing, which will assess progress made by government departments and regional offices with the Rural White Paper commitment. This paper seeks the Board’s comments on draft findings, draft recommendations and draft policy issues for the annual report.
12. Date and location of next meeting
The next meeting of the Countryside Agency will be on 15 May 2003, John Dower House, Cheltenham.
