Breadcrumbs
Agenda for the 37th Meeting of the Countryside Agency
1. Apologies for absence
2. Chairman to sign minutes of meeting held 10 July 2003
3. Chief Executive’s report and matters arising
This paper updates the Board on activity within each programme area, any actions taken as a result of decisions from previous Board meetings and progress made on those issues.
4. Month 5 and Quarter One Report April – August 2003 (AP03/27)
This is the month 5 report on progress towards the Corporate Plan 2003/04 – 2005/06. Board members are asked to approve the month 5 and quarter one reports for April to August 2003; to agree that, at present, the Agency anticipates that full year out-turn will reflect the full year budget of £111M; to agree that at the end of August 2003 the Agency is behind its budgeted expenditure; and to agree that there is no re-budgeting required for the Agency at this stage, but that Quarter 2 will include a formal forecasting process across the Agency.
5. Draft Corporate Plan for 2004/05 to 2006/07 (AP03/28)
This is the first draft of the Corporate Plan 2004/05 – 2006/07 for consideration by the Board. The Board is asked to agree the draft corporate plan, based on an annual grant-in-aid of £98M for the planning period; to note potential implications of proposed reductions; to note that there is a separate bid for Access Management, which Defra advised the Agency to submit separately; and to agree the draft plan reflects the Board’s steer from the 4 September workshop.
6. Research Strategy (AP03/29)
Research is a key function for the Agency. Many valuable research projects have been completed and there are many examples of Agency research. However, the Agency does not have a clear summary statement of research priorities, or an Agency-wide set of quality assurance definitions and guidelines. This paper asks for the Board’s approval of three proposed research themes and six related principles as a framework for the Countryside Agency’s Research Strategy; and approval to develop a full draft strategy for November’s Board meeting.
7. Implementing Reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy in England (AP03/30 - Annexes)
In June 2003 agreement was reached in Luxembourg on mid-term changes to the Agenda 2000 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform package. This paper assesses the changes agreed in Luxembourg against the Agency’s aspirations for long-term reform of CAP. Board members are asked to agree a set of principles to guide Agency advocacy on CAP reform and to approve the response to Defra on their consultation paper “Options for Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy”.
8. Compact between the Countryside Agency and the Rural Community Council (AP03/31)
Government departments and agencies, and local authorities, have been encouraged to develop Compacts with the Voluntary and Community Sector to reflect their own activities and responsibilities. The Rural Community Councils (RCCs) are a key voluntary sector partner for the Agency. The Board is asked to approve the Compact between the Agency and the RCCs; to approve the implementation plan and appointment of a Board level Compact champion; and to note the potential for wider application of Compact principles.
9. South Downs National Park Boundary at Arundel (AP03/32)
The land south of Arundel and Tortington Common were included within both the draft and proposed national park boundaries on the basis that they met the statutory criteria for inclusion. When considering the boundary at the draft and proposed stages, there was not sufficient certainty about the Arundel bypass going ahead and the land had not been allocated for development of a bypass in the development plan. In July 2003 the Secretary of State for Transport announced he did not support the recommendation for the Arundel bypass. With this decision in mind, the Board is asked to agree, subject to consultation, to make a variation order to add to the South Downs National Park land at Arundel.
10. Annual Advice to the Minister on National Park Funding Allocations (AP03/33)
Every autumn the Countryside Agency makes recommendations to the Minister of State for Rural Affairs and Local Environmental Quality on the allocation of grant to the English National Parks and the Broads Authority. This paper asks for the Board’s agreement that the 2004/05 National Parks grant is distributed as recommended in the paper, and that the Minister is advised accordingly.
11. Date and location of next meeting
The next meeting of the Countryside Agency will be on 13 November 2003, Dacre House, London.
